you. Do you think I should ever have put myself into
this position but for you?"

"You would never have been asked here if they had consulted me. I knew
what a nuisance you'd be. Here, get this lady something to eat, old
man," said the bridegroom, tapping Mr. Tatham on the back, who did,
indeed, look rather like a waiter from that point of view.

"I shall have to help myself," said the lady in despair. And she sat
down at the elaborate table in the bride's place and began to hack at
the chicken. The gentlemen coming in at the moment roared again with
laughter over the Jew's impatience; but it was not regarded with the
same admiration by the rest of the guests.

These little incidents, perhaps, helped to wile away the weary hours
until it was time for the bridal pair to depart. Mrs. Dennistoun was so
angry that it kept up a little fire, so to speak, in her heart when the
light of her house was extinguished. Lady Mariamne, standing in the
porch with a bag full of rice to throw, kept up the spirit of the
mistress of the house, which otherwise might, perhaps, have failed her
altogether at that inconceivable moment; for though she had been looking
forward to it for months it was inconceivable when it came, as death is
inconceivable. Elinor going away!--not on a visit, or to be back in a
week, or a month, or a year--going away for ever! ending, as might be
said, when she put her foot on the step of the carriage. Her mother
stood by and looked on with that cruel conviction that overtakes all
at the last. Up to this moment had it not seemed as if the course of
affairs was unreal, as if something must happen to prevent it? Perhaps
the world will end to-night, as the lover says in the "Last Ride." But
now here was the end: nothing had happened, the world was swinging on in
space in its old careless way, and Elinor was going--going away for ever
and ever. Oh, to come back, perhaps--there was nothing against that--but
never the same Elinor. The mother stood looking, with her hand over her
eyes to shield them from the sun. Those eyes were quite dry, and she
stood firm and upright by the carriage door. She was not "breaking down"
or "giving way," as everybody feared. She was "bearing up," as everybody
was relieved to see. And in a moment it was all over, and there was
nothing before her eyes--no carriage, no Elinor. She was so dazed that
she stood still, looking with that strange kind of smile for a full
minute after there was not