"Not if I can get a little cottage here, and if we spend part of the year always in Old Maxham," added Mr. Willoughby.
"Is that to be it? Why, I know the very cottage for you," exclaimed the Vicar.
Mildred's first intention was not to be married in a hurry. She saw no need for it, she said, and she wanted to turn out Jessie an accomplished dressmaker, which might not be so easy when she had a husband claiming her attention.
Mr. Willoughby, however, demurred as to this. It was not as if he were a very young man, or had to make his way. He was over fifty years old, and he had abundance of money.
Moreover, if Mildred was in no hurry, the same could not be said of himself. He was in a very great hurry; and his impatience waxed stronger every day. Jessie should learn her business from somebody, at his expense but he did not quite see why Jessie's dressmaking was to keep him longer without a wife, now that he had found a wife exactly to his mind.
A good deal of urging was needed to make Mildred see things as he did; but she became slowly convinced, and even at last confessed that she had really no wish for delay, except for the sake of Jessie's dressmaking and Miss Perkins' convenience. When it was decided that Jessie should go to London for six months' good instruction, and when another lodger was found for Miss Perkins, and when Mr. Willoughby undertook that she should be in no sense a loser by Mildred's departure or by Jessie's absence, Mildred had no longer any real difficulties to propose.
The wedding took place in June, from Miss Perkins' house; and Old Maxham came together to see it. Everybody was invited afterwards to a tea on the Vicarage lawn, where Miss Gilbert dispensed tea and coffee and cakes; and the Vicar managed to have a few words with each individual present; and many kind things were said both to Mr. Willoughby and his wife.
Mr. Willoughby, in consideration of its being his wedding day, had cut his hair—or had had it cut—a good deal shorter; and if the effect was less picturesque, it was also less aged. People ventured to hope that his new wife would insist on making this improvement permanent, as it was not necessary that he should as yet look patriarchal. Mildred herself, in a soft grey dress and grey bonnet with white flowers, looked very nice and happy. No two opinions were heard as to this.
They went into Devonshire for their honeymoon, and afterwards spent much time in London, with a month now and then in Mr. Willoughby's little cottage at Old Maxham. Mildred had always thought that she would dislike London; but she soon became so deeply interested in the various benevolent works taken up by her husband, that it was easier to win him away than to persuade her to go.
Jessie and Jack had to wait much longer for their marriage, which was only reasonable, since they were so very much younger.