Volume I Part 4 (2/2)
Haggard rises, glaring at old Pepper in a menacing manner. ”Am I to regard your remark as any insinuation upon me, General Pepper?” he said fiercely.
”I say it's a d.a.m.ned shame,” repeated the veteran.
The hubbub became general. What was to be done? Of course, there would be a scandal, but in the eyes of most men at the Pandemonium Club, Haggard was not to be blamed, he was merely to be envied. Probably the real fact was that the weak young fellow was suddenly carried off his legs by the repeated draughts of the fiery cordial, the effect of which only became apparent to the on-lookers after the final bet had been made and the game had recommenced. Who shall cast a stone, then, at Haggard?
He merely backed his luck, as the saying is. There was nothing unfair about the matter. But the nasty part of the whole thing was, that Haggard had won eleven thousand pounds from a weak-headed boy. The society newspapers for the week alluded to the matter in veiled, but unmistakable terms. And when Haggard announced to his friend Spunyarn his intention of returning to America, to realize his property, on the termination of his wedding tour, the young lord acquiesced in that decision, casually remarking, ”It would be as well if you fought shy a bit, you know, old man, for I am heartily sick of being bothered about the baccarat matter, and of looking in the paper to see if that young prig Lamb has hung himself. Ta ta, you lucky beggar. I shall be to the fore at your diggings to-morrow, in the regulation s.h.i.+ny boots.” They parted.
Next day Reginald Haggard was to lead Georgina Warrender to the altar, and Spunyarn's allusion to s.h.i.+ny boots merely referred to the fact that he was to be his friend Haggard's best man.
CHAPTER VI.
GEORGIE'S WEDDING.
In newspaper descriptions of the last moments of celebrated criminals, we constantly read that ”the unfortunate man did full justice to a substantial meal;” but n.o.body ever yet heard of a bridegroom who had any appet.i.te for his breakfast; his own real breakfast is meant, and not the elaborate entertainment which follows close upon the ceremony. Reginald Haggard and his friend, Lord Spunyarn, were the vicar's guests at King's Warren Parsonage, but in vain did Mrs. Dodd press upon Haggard the numerous dainties with which her hospitable board was provided. Haggard was in a state of suppressed excitement, and he couldn't eat a mouthful.
They were a cheerful enough party though, and Lord Spunyarn made up for his friend's deficiencies, for the young n.o.bleman had an almost Homeric appet.i.te. Justice Haggard, Reginald's father, and Lord Hetton, who had pa.s.sed the night at the ”Dun Cow,” were present, for the sporting n.o.bleman was supposed to represent the head of the family, his father, Lord Pit Town; and though he looked upon the whole matter as a very great nuisance indeed, still it was a family function at which his presence was a matter of course.
That breakfast at the Parsonage seemed interminable to Haggard, but even clerical breakfasts must have an end, and at length Mrs. Dodd rose, to the general relief of all present. There were yet two mortal hours to get through, and the men of the party sought the cool shades of the vicarage garden.
”Pull yourself together, old man,” said Spunyarn to his friend, for Haggard was looking pale and miserable; ”you're as sulky as a bear with a sore head. It's quite unnecessary to pose as a hero of romance.
What's up with you, man; boots too tight?”
”I'll be hanged if I can tell you what's up,” said his friend, ”but this I know, I'm confoundedly depressed.”
”Perhaps it's your natural timidity,” said the other.
”Don't chaff, s.h.i.+rtings; you're a very good fellow, you know, but I'm not in a laughing humour.”
”Well, you needn't sulk all the same,” said Spunyarn; ”take my advice and have a gla.s.s of brandy.”
Justice Haggard looked far more like a bridegroom than his son; the old gentleman, in his blue frock coat, his blue bird's-eye neckerchief, and with a flower in his b.u.t.ton-hole, was the picture of health and happiness; while his white hat, which was c.o.c.ked a little on one side, completed his festal appearance. He gave his son a hearty smack on the back.
”When I married your mother, Reginald, my boy, I was as jolly as a man could be; why, there's nothing to be alarmed about, unless you've lost the ring, you know; and the ladies wouldn't let you off with that excuse, for there's always the key of the church door in case of an emergency.”
Haggard forced a smile.
”The ring's safe enough, father,” he said.
”Don't worry him, gentlemen,” cried the vicar; ”it's only natural. I've had a good deal of experience with bridegrooms; believe me, it's the general symptom. I felt just the same when I was married myself; but it's nothing to preaching one's first sermon. It's all very well for you to talk, Haggard; but I'll be bound we were both just as miserable as our young friend, though we've forgotten all about it now. But here comes my wife with the sacrificial emblems.”
There was no compromise about Mrs. Dodd, as she advanced straight to the bridegroom and proceeded to firmly secure a large white favour to his breast. The rest of the party were soon similarly decorated.
”There's one comfort, we haven't far to go,” said Lord Hetton. ”I feel we look rather like a parcel of fools.”
”At all events, we haven't any time to lose,” suggested the vicar, as he looked at his watch; ”and, unless we mean to keep the bride waiting, we had better be off.”
The whole party pa.s.sed through the little wicket, crossed the churchyard, which was thronged with the whole population of King's Warren in its Sunday best, and entered the church, and the bridegroom and his friends at once took their place at the altar rails.
If Georgie Warrender had acted with proper decorum, she would have wept upon her father's bosom; but this ill-regulated young person did nothing of the kind. They must have been all very glad to get rid of her at The Warren, for n.o.body shed a single tear; there was a great deal of running about; the young person from the West End milliner's, her mouth full of pins, issued innumerable orders in a m.u.f.fled whisper; and Miss Lucy Warrender and her three fellow bridesmaids appeared completely attired, at least half-a-dozen times, to submit themselves to old Warrender's inspection in the drawing-room quite half-an-hour before the carriages drew up at the door to take them to the church.
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