“Very well,” I said. “Good-bye.”
And I drew a breath of relief to think of the whole blessed Day of Rest before me.
* * * * *
Even Church, however, wasn’t without its slight reminder of the situation.
I was feeling rested, soothed, lulled—and, I am afraid, not strictly attentive—when my attention was caught, first by Theo’s moist palm being thrust into mine, much as Cariad thrusts his nose, and then by a phrase in the voice of the officiating curate:
“I publish the banns of marriage between——”
Banns, of course! Of course they must needs publish banns on this particular Sunday and in this particular church! thought I, rather pettishly. Well, I supposed it wasn’t really the Governor’s fault! and that there are banns read every week! The next words I heard were:
“Also of Leonard Harris, bachelor—”
Ah! I knew his name; it was the young man from the Waters’ butcher, who, as I had already been told, was to marry the prettiest of the maids at The Lawn, the one who was sweeping the stairs this morning.