Part 109 (1/2)

”I must see Miss Carden directly.”

”Step in, sir; she won't be long now.”

Dr. Amboyne walked into the dining-room, and saw it adorned with a wealth of flowers, and the wedding-breakfast set out with the usual splendor; but there was n.o.body there; and immediately an uneasy suspicion crossed his mind.

He came out into the pa.s.sage, and found Lally there.

”Are they gone to the church?”

”They are,” said Lally, with consummate coolness.

”You Irish idiot!” roared the doctor, ”why couldn't you tell me that before?” And, notwithstanding his ungainly figure, he ran down the road, shouting, like a Stentor, to his receding cabman.

”Bekase I saw that every minute was goold,” said Lally, as soon as he was out of hearing.

The cabman, like most of his race, was rather deaf and a little blind, and Dr. Amboyne was much heated and out of breath before he captured him. He gasped out, ”To St. Peter's Church, for your life!”

It was rather down-hill this time, and about a mile off.

In little more than five minutes the cab rattled up to the church door.

Dr. Amboyne got out, told the man to wait, and entered the church with a rapid step.

Before he had gone far up the center aisle, he stopped.

Mr. Coventry and Grace Carden were coming down the aisle together in wedding costume, the lady in her bridal veil.

They were followed by the bridemaids.

Dr. Amboyne stared, and stepped aside into an open pew to let them pa.s.s.

They swept by; he looked after them, and remained glued to his seat till the church was clear of the procession.

He went into the vestry, and found the curate there.

”Are that couple really married, sir?” said he.

The curate looked amazed. ”As fast as I can make them,” said he, rather flippantly.

”Excuse me,” said the doctor, faintly. ”It was a foolish question to ask.”

”I think I have the honor of speaking to Dr. Amboyne?”

Dr. Amboyne bowed mechanically.

”You will be at the wedding-breakfast, of course?”

”Humph!”