Part 44 (1/2)
But there was Janet yet to come. George went home in a fly, and threw himself on the first sofa he could find. Janet, full of concern, came to him.
”I said you were attempting too much, George!” she cried. ”But you never will listen to me.”
”I'm sure, Janet, I listen to you dutifully. I have come home to consult you now,” he added, a little spirit of mischief dancing in his gay blue eyes. ”It is not fatigue or illness that has brought me. Janet, I am going to be married.”
Janet G.o.dolphin's pulses beat more quickly. She sat down and folded her hands with a gesture of pain. ”I knew it would be so. You need not have tried to deceive me yesterday, lad.”
”But the young lady's friends refuse her to me, unless my family openly sanction and approve of the match,” went on George. ”You'll be kindly over it, won't you, Janet?”
”No, lad. I cannot forbid it; I have no authority over you: but, sanction it, I never will. What has put it into your head to marry in this haste? You, with one foot in the grave, as may be said, and one out of it?”
”Well, you see, Janet, you won't trust me abroad without some one to look after me,” he slowly answered, as if he were arguing some momentous question. ”You say you can't go, and Bessy can't go, and Cecil may not, and I say I won't have Margery. What was I to do, but marry? I cannot take a young lady, you know, without first marrying her.”
Janet G.o.dolphin's grave eyes were fixed on vacancy, and her thin, lips drawn in to pressure. She did not answer.
”Thomas heartily approves,” he continued. ”I have been with him.”
”Thomas must do as he likes,” said Janet. ”But, unless you have unwittingly misunderstood him, George, you are telling me a deliberate falsehood. He will never approve of your marrying Charlotte Pain.”
”Charlotte Pain!” repeated George, with an air of as much surprise as if it were genuine, ”who was talking about Charlotte Pain? What put her into your head?”
Janet's face flushed. ”Were _you_ not talking of Charlotte Pain?”
”Not I,” said George. ”In spite of the compliments you pay my truthfulness, Janet, I _meant_ what I said to you yesterday--that I did not intend to make her my wife. I am speaking of Maria Hastings.”
”Eh, lad, but that's good news!”
George burst into a laugh. ”What green geese you must all have been, Janet! Had you used your eyes, you might have detected this long time past that my choice was fixed on Maria. But the Rector doubts whether you will approve. He will not promise her to me until he has your sanction.”
”I'll put my shawl on and go down at once to the Rectory, and tell him that we all love Maria,” said Janet, more impulsively than was common with her: but in truth she had been relieved from a great fear. There was something about Charlotte Pain that frightened sedate Janet.
Compared with her, Maria Hastings appeared everything that was desirable as a wife for George. Her want of fortune, her want of position--which was certainly not equal to that of the G.o.dolphins--were lost sight of.
”I could manage to take some broth, Janet,” cried George, as she was leaving the room. ”I have had nothing since breakfast.”
”To be sure. I am growing forgetful. Margery shall wait upon you, my dear. But, to go down to the Rectory without delay, is a courtesy due from me.”
So, no impediment was placed upon the marriage. Neither was any impediment placed upon its immediate celebration: the Rector permitting himself to be persuaded into it.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHARLOTTE'S BARGAIN.
Three weeks after that momentous day at All Souls' Rectory, George G.o.dolphin and Maria stood before the Rector in All Souls' Church. George did not appear very ill now; he was not so shadowy, his fine complexion had returned, and stick the second was discarded. Maria was beautiful.
Her soft bridal robes floated around her, her colour went and came as she glanced shyly up at George G.o.dolphin. A handsome couple; a couple seldom seen.
It was quite a private marriage so to say; but few guests being present, and they relatives, or very close friends. Lady G.o.dolphin had responded to the invitation (which Janet had not expected her to do), and was the guest of Ashlydyat. Very superb was she in silks and jewels this day.
Old Mrs. Briscow had also remained for it. Mr. Crosse was present, and some relatives of the Hastings family: and Grace and Cecil were bridesmaids. The Rector joined their hands, speaking the necessary words slowly and emphatically; words that bound them to each other until death.