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hard cash-第107章

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ide's body。

Bump came Edward's foot against the door; making them all shriek。

〃Now I don't want to hurry you; but Dr。 Sampson is come。〃 The handmaids; flustered; tried to go faster; and; when the work was done; Julia took her little handglass and inspected her back: 〃Oh;〃 she screamed; 〃I am crooked。 There; go for mamma!〃

Mamma soon came; and the poor bride held out imploring hands; 〃I'm all awry; I'm as crooked as a ram's horn。〃

〃La; miss;〃 said Sarah; 〃it's only behind; nobody will notice it。〃

〃How can they help it? Mamma! _am_ I deformed?〃

Mrs。 Dodd smiled superior and bade her be calm: 〃It is the lacing; dear。 No; Sarah; it is no use your _pulling_ it; all the pulling in the world will not straighten it。 I thought so: you have missed the second top hole。〃

Julia's little foot began to beat a tattoo on the floor: 〃There is not a soul in the house but you can do the simplest thing。 Eyes and no eyes! Fingers and no fingers! I never did。〃

〃Hush; love; we all do our best。〃

〃Oh; I am sure of that; poor things。〃

_〃Nobody_ can lace you if you fidget about love;〃 objected Mrs。 Dodd。

(Bump)! 〃Now I don't want to hurry any man's cattle: but the bridesmaids are come。〃

〃Oh dear; I shall never be ready in time;〃 said Julia; and the tattoo recommenced。

〃Plenty of time; love;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd; quietly lacing: 〃not half…past ten yet。 Sarah; go and see if the bridegroom has arrived。〃

Sarah returned with the reassuring tidings that the bridegroom had not yet arrived; though the carriages had。

〃Oh; thank Heaven; _he_ is not come;〃 said Julia。 〃If I keep him waiting to…day; he might say'Oho!'〃

Under dread of a comment so significant she was ready at last; and said majestically he might come now whenever he liked。

Meantime; down stairs an uneasiness of the opposite kind was growing。 Ten minutes past the appointed time; and the bridegroom not there。 So while Julia; now full dressed; and easy in her mind; was directing Sarah's sister to lay out her plain travelling dress; bonnet and gloves on the bed; Mrs。 Dodd was summoned downstairs。 She came down with Julia's white gloves in her hand; and a needle and thread; the button sewed on by trade's fair hand having flown at the first strain。 Edward met her on the stairs: 〃What had we better do; mother?〃 said he; _sotto voce:_ 〃there must be some mistake。 Can you remember? Wasn't he to call for me on the way to the church?〃

〃I really do not know;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd。 〃Is he at the church; do you think?〃

〃No; no; either he was to call for me here; or I for him。 I'll go to the church; though: it is only a step。〃

He ran off; and in a little more than five minutes came into the drawing…room。

〃No; he is not there。 I must go to his lodgings。 Confound him; he has got reading Aristotle; I suppose。〃

This passed before the whole party; Julia excepted。

Sampson looked at his watch; and said he could conduct the ladies to the church while Edward went for Alfred。 〃Division of labour;〃 said he gallantly; 〃and mine the delightful half。〃

Mrs。 Dodd demurred to the plan。 She was for waiting quietly in one place。

〃Well; but〃 said Edward; 〃we may overdo that; here it is a quarter…past eleven; and you know they can't be married after twelve。 No; I really think you had better all go with the doctor。 I dare say we shall be there as soon as you will。〃

This was agreed on after some discussion。 Edward; however; to provide against all contingencies; begged Sampson not to wait for him should Alfred reach the church by some other road: 〃I'm only groomsman; you know;〃 said he。 He ran off at a racing pace。 The bride was then summoned; admired; and handed into one carriage with her two bridesmaids; Miss Bosanquet and Miss Darton。 Sampson and Mrs。 Dodd went in the other; and by half…past eleven they were all safe in the church。

A good many people; high and low; were about the door and in the pews; waiting to see the beautiful Miss Dodd married to the son of a personage once so popular as Mr。 Hardie: it had even transpired that Mr。 Hardie disapproved the match。 They had been waiting a long time; and were beginning to wonder what was the matter; when; at last the bride's party walked up the aisle with a bright April sun shining on them through the broad old windows。 The bride's rare beauty; and stag…like carriage of her head; imperial in its loveliness and orange wreath; drew a hum of admiration。

The party stood a minute or two at the east end of the church; and then the clergyman came out and invited them into the vestry。

Their reappearance was eagerly expected; in silence at first; but presently in loud and multitudinous whispers。

At this moment a young lady; with almost perfect features and sylph…like figure; modestly dressed in dove…coloured silk; but with a new chip bonnet and white gloves; entered a pew near the west door; and said a little prayer; then proceeded up the aisle; and exchanged a word with the clerk; then into the vestry。

〃Cheep! cheep! cheep!〃 went fifty female tongues; and the arrival of the bridegroom's sister became public news。

The bride welcomed her in the vestry with a sweet guttural of surprise and delight; and they kissed one another like little tigers。

〃Oh; my darling Jane; how kind of you! have I got you back to make my happiness complete?〃

Now none of her own party had thought it wise to tell Julia there was any hitch: but Miss Hardie blurted out naturally enough; 〃But where's Alfred?〃

〃I don't know; dear;〃 said Julia innocently。 〃Are not he and Edward in another part of the church? I thought we were waiting till twelve o'clock; perhaps。 Mamma dear; you know everything; I suppose this is all right?〃

Then; looking round at her friends' faces; she saw in a moment that it was all wrong。 Sampson's; in particular; was burning with manly indignation; and even her mother's discomposed; and trying to smile。

When the innocent saw this; she suspected her beloved was treating her cavalierly; and her poor little mouth began to work; and she had much ado not to whimper。

Mrs。 Dodd; to encourage her; told her not to be put out: it had been arranged all along that Edward should go for him: 〃Unfortunately we had an impression it was the other way: but now Edward is gone to his lodgings。〃

〃No; mamma;〃 said Julia; 〃Alfred was to call for Edward; because our house was on the way。〃

〃Are you sure; my child?〃 asked Mrs。 Dodd very gravely。

〃Oh yes; mamma;〃 said Julia; beginning to tremble; 〃at a quarter before eleven: I heard them settle it。〃

The matter was terribly serious now; indeed; it began to look hopeless。 Weather overclouded: rain…drops falling; and hard upon twelve o'clock。

They all looked at one another in despair。

Suddenly there was a loud; long buzzing heard outside; and the house of God turned into a gossiping fair。 〃Talk of money changers;〃 said Satan that day; 〃give _me_ the exchangers of small talk。〃

〃Thank Heaven they are come;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd。 But; having thus relieved her mind; she drew herself up and prepared a freezing reception for the defaulter。

A whisper reached their excited ears: 〃It is young Mr。 Dodd〃 and next moment Edward came into the vestryalone: the sight of him was enough; 
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