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Sol looked to his father for a reply。
'No； I too shall go to the church first； just to assure myself；'
said Chickerel。 'I shall then go on to Mrs Petherwin's。'
The carriage was stopped at the corner of a steep incline leading
down to the edifice。 Mountclere and Chickerel alighted and walked
on towards the gates； Sol remaining in his place。 Christopher was
some way off； descending the hill on foot； having halted to leave
his horse and trap at a small inn at the entrance to the village。
When Chickerel and Mountclere reached the churchyard gate they found
it slightly open。 The church…door beyond it was also open； but
nobody was near the spot。
'We have arrived not a minute too soon； however；' said Mountclere。
'Preparations have apparently begun。 It was to be an early wedding；
no doubt。'
Entering the building； they looked around； it was quite empty。
Chickerel turned towards the chancel； his eye being attracted by a
red kneeling…cushion； placed at about the middle of the altar…
railing； as if for early use。 Mountclere strode to the vestry；
somewhat at a loss how to proceed in his difficult task of
unearthing his brother； obtaining a private interview with him； and
then； by the introduction of Sol and Chickerel； causing a general
convulsion。
'Ha！ here's somebody；' he said； observing a man in the vestry。 He
advanced with the intention of asking where Lord Mountclere was to
be found。 Chickerel came forward in the same direction。
'Are you the parish clerk？' said Mountclere to the man； who was
dressed up in his best clothes。
'I hev the honour of that calling；' the man replied。
Two large books were lying before him on the vestry table； one of
them being open。 As the clerk spoke he looked slantingly on the
page； as a person might do to discover if some writing were dry。
Mountclere and Chickerel gazed on the same page。 The book was the
marriage…register。
'Too late！' said Chickerel。
There plainly enough stood the signatures of Lord Mountclere and
Ethelberta。 The viscount's was very black； and had not yet dried。
Her strokes were firm； and comparatively thick for a woman's； though
paled by juxtaposition with her husband's muddled characters。 In
the space for witnesses' names appeared in trembling lines as fine
as silk the autograph of Picotee； the second name being that of a
stranger； probably the clerk。
'Yes； yeswe are too late； it seems；' said Mountclere coolly。 'Who
could have thought they'd marry at eight！'
Chickerel stood like a man baked hard and dry。 Further than his
first two words he could say nothing。
'They must have set about it early； upon my soul；' Mountclere
continued。 'When did the wedding take place？' he asked of the clerk
sharply。
'It was over about five minutes before you came in；' replied that
luminary pleasantly； as he played at an invisible game of pitch…and…
toss with some half…sovereigns in his pocket。 'I received orders to
have the church ready at five minutes to eight this morning； though
I knew nothing about such a thing till bedtime last night。 It was
very private and plain； not that I should mind another such a one；
sir；' and he secretly pitched and tossed again。
Meanwhile Sol had found himself too restless to sit waiting in the
carriage for more than a minute after the other two had left it。 He
stepped out at the same instant that Christopher came past； and
together they too went on to the church。
'Father； ought we not to go on at once to Ethelberta's； instead of
waiting？' said Sol； on reaching the vestry； still in ignorance。
''Twas no use in coming here。'
'No use at all；' said Chickerel； as if he had straw in his throat。
'Look at this。 I would almost sooner have had it that in leaving
this church I came from her gravewell； no； perhaps not that； but I
fear it is a bad thing。'
Sol then saw the names in the register； Christopher saw them； and
the man closed the book。 Christopher could not well command
himself； and he retired。
'I knew it。 I always said that pride would lead Berta to marry an
unworthy man； and so it has！' said Sol bitterly。 'What shall we do
now？ I'll see her。'
'Do no such thing； young man；' said Mountclere。 'The best course is
to leave matters alone。 They are married。 If you are wise； you
will try to think the match a good one； and be content to let her
keep her position without inconveniencing her by your intrusions or
complaints。 It is possible that the satisfaction of her ambition
will help her to endure any few surprises to her propriety that may
occur。 She is a clever young woman； and has played her cards
adroitly。 I only hope she may never repent of the game！ A…hem。
Good morning。' Saying this； Mountclere slightly bowed to his
relations； and marched out of the church with dignity； but it was
told afterwards by the coachman； who had no love for Mountclere；
that when he stepped into the fly； and was as he believed
unobserved； he was quite overcome with fatuous rage； his lips
frothing like a mug of hot ale。
'What an impertinent gentleman 'tis；' said Chickerel。 'As if we had
tried for her to marry his brother！'
'He knows better than that；' said Sol。 'But he'll never believe
that Berta didn't lay a trap for the old fellow。 He thinks at this
moment that Lord Mountclere has never been told of us and our
belongings。'
'I wonder if she has deceived him in anything；' murmured Chickerel。
'I can hardly suppose it。 But she is altogether beyond me。
However； if she has misled him on any point she will suffer for it。'
'You need not fear that； father。 It isn't her way of working。 Why
couldn't she have known that when a title is to be had for the
asking； the owner must be a shocking one indeed？'
'The title is well enough。 Any poor scrubs in our place must be
fools not to think the match a very rare and astonishing honour； as
far as the position goes。 But that my brave girl will be miserable
is a part of the honour I can't stomach so well。 If he had been any
other lord in the kingdom； we might have been merry indeed。 I
believe he will ruin her happinessyes； I donot by any personal
snubbing or rough conduct； but by other things； causing her to be
despised； and that is a thing she can't endure。'
'She's not to be despised without a deal of troublewe must
remember that。 And if he insults her by introducing new favourites；
as they say he did his first wife； I'll call upon him and ask his
meaning； and take her away。'
'Nonsensewe shall never know what he does； or how she feels； she
will never let out a word。 However unhappy she may be； she will
always deny itthat's the unfortunate part of such marriages。'
'An old chap like that ought to leave young women alone； damn him！'
The clerk came nearer。 'I am afraid I cannot allow bad words to be
spoke in this sacred pile；' he said。 'As far as my personal self
goes； I should have no objection to your cussing as much as you
like； but as a official of the church my conscience won't allow it
to be done。'
'Your conscience has allowed something to be done that cussing and
swearing are godly worship to。'
'The prettiest maid is left out of harness； however；' said t