rmed at
the Episcopal Church at Charlotte Hall. The bridal party set forward in
two carriages. They were attended by the commodore and Mrs. Waugh. They
reached the church at an early hour, and the marriage was solemnized
before the morning service. When the entries had been made, and the
usual congratulations passed, the party returned to the carriages.
Before entering his own, Commodore Waugh approached that in which the
bride and bridegroom were already seated, and into which the groomsman
was about to hand the bridesmaid.

"Stay, you two, you need not enter just yet," said the old man, "I want
to speak with Mr. Shields and his wife, Edith!"

Edith put her head forward, eagerly.

"I have nothing against you; but after what has occurred, I don't want
to see you at Luckenough again. Good-by!" Then, turning to Shields, he
said, "I will have your own and your wife's goods forwarded to the
hotel, here," and nodding gruffly, he strode away.

Cloudesley stormed, Edith begged that the carriage might be delayed yet
a little while. Vain Edith's hope, and vain Mrs. Waugh's expostulations,
Old Nick was not to be mollified. He said that "those who pleased to
remain with the new-married couple, might do so--he should go home! They
did as they liked, and he should do as he liked." Mrs. Waugh,
Cloudesley, and the bridesmaid determined to stay.

The commodore entered his carriage, and was driven toward home.

The party then adjourned to the hotel. Mrs. Waugh comforting Edith,
and declaring her intention to stay with her as long as she should
remain in the neighborhood--for Henrietta always did as she pleased,
notwithstanding the opposition of her stormy husband. The young
bridesmaid and Cloudesley also expressed their determination to stand
by their friends to the last.

Their patience was not put to a very long test. In a few days a packet
was to sail from Benedict to Baltimore, and the young couple took
advantage of the opportunity, and departed, with the good wishes of
their few devoted friends.

Their destination was Toronto, in Canada, where the young ensign's
regiment was quartered.

CHAPTER V.

SANS SOUCI.

Several miles from the manor of Luckenough, upon a hill not far from the
seacoast, stood the cottage of the Old Fields.

The property was an appendage to the Manor of Luckenoug--, and was at
this time occupied by a poor relation of Commodore Waugh, his niece,
Mary L'Oiseau, the widow of a Frenchman. M