oing to describe the ceremony--at which I had the privilege of
holding my friend's hat--beyond saying that woman, as is usual on
these occasions, was a success, and man a dismal failure. There was
one exception. When little Susie Clemow, who at Mr. Fogo's express
desire was one of the bridesmaids, identified the bridegroom with the
strange gentleman who had frightened her in the lane, and burst into
loud screams in the middle of the service, I could not sufficiently
admire the readiness with which Peter Dearlove produced a packet of
brandy-balls from his tail-pocket to comfort her, or the prescience
which led him to bring such confectionery to a wedding.

At the breakfast, too, which, owing to the dimensions of the
Dearloves' cottage, was perforce select, Peter again shone.
In proposing the health of Mr. and Mrs. Fogo, he said--

"On an occasion like the present et becomes us not to repine.
These things es sent us for our good" (here he looked doubtfully at
the cake), "an' wan man's meat es t'other's p'ison, which I hopes"
(severely) "you knawed wi'out my tellin' 'ee; an' I shudn' wonder ef
Paul an' me was to draw lots wan o' these fine days as to which o' us
shud take the pledge--I means, the plunge--an' go an' scarify hissel'
'pon the high menial altar."

Immense excitement at this point prevailed among certain elderly
spinsters present.

"That was a joke," explained the speaker, with a sudden and stony
solemnity, "an' I hopes 'twill be tuk in the sperrit in which 'twas
meant. An' wi' that I gi'es Tamsin's health an' that o' P. Fogo,
Esquire, to whom she has been this day made man an' wife; an' bless
them an' their dear offspring!"

At this point he was sitting down when Paul leant across and
whispered in his ear.

"You are right, Paul," said the orator--"or offsprings. Bless their
dear offspring _or_ offsprings--as the case may be."

And with this he resumed his seat amid frantic applause.

The Twins alone escorted the bride and bridegroom to the
railway-station; and with the accident that there befell, the
chronicle of Mr. Fogo's adventures may for the present close.
While the brothers saw Tamsin to her carriage, and with their white
waistcoats and gigantic favours planted awe in the breast of the
travelling public, the bridegroom dived into the Booking Office to
take the tickets for London; for Mr. and Mrs. Fogo were to spend some
days in the Metropolis before crossing the Channel.

Now it so happ