has taken them in hand for a while. Well, well, well!
'tis a pretty sight after all. I'll say no more. Give me your arm,
good Master Harmer, and let me have a good view of the tying of
this knot, so that there shall be no slipping out of it later."

James Harmer, with a bow which he made as courtly as he knew how,
offered his arm to the curious, little, old lady; and strange it
was to see her small, richly-clad, upright figure amongst the
simple group before the altar that day. Many there were who
wondered what had brought her, and amongst the party themselves
none could answer the question. It appeared to be one of those
freaks for which, in old days, Lady Scrope had made herself famous
throughout London, and the habit of which had not been overcome,
although the opportunities were growing smaller with advancing
years.

She insisted on accompanying the party back to Mary Harmer's
cottage. A simple collation was awaiting them before they travelled
back to the city. Lady Scrope looked with the greatest interest and
curiosity at the cottage; received the inquiring advances of Fido
very graciously; made the boys tell her all the history of his
attaching himself to them; and finally made herself the most
entertaining and agreeable guest at the board, although the
sharpness of her speech and the acid favour of some of her remarks
bred a little uneasiness in some of her auditors.

Nevertheless the time passed pleasantly enough; and when the hands
of the clock pointed to the hour of eleven, the lady rose to her
feet and remarked incisively:

"My coach will be here immediately, if the varlets play me not
false. The bride, bridegroom, and the bride's father shall drive
with me. I mean to see the maiden's house before I return to mine
own."

A glowing colour was in Gertrude's face. Now she began to have a
clearer idea why Lady Scrope was there. Reuben had been to her
once, and had asked her approval of their plan to expend the bulk
of the dowry she had, with such eccentric and unaccountable
generosity, bestowed upon the bride, upon the purchase of the house
which had been for many generations in the family of her father,
and which she loved well from old associations.

Reuben was going to set up in business for himself now. He had long
been contemplating this step, since his father's trade was
increasing steadily. They would now be partners, Reuben taking one
branch of the industry, and leaving his father the other. With