“No. Did you not know that this little Church of ours is not licensed for weddings? The parish Church is three miles off and a temple of the winds. This is only a chapelry, there is a special licence, and Cecil is hunting with the Hamptons, and comes with them on Monday.”
“Special licence! Happy Mrs. Coffinkey!” ejaculated Babie.
“Everybody comes then,” said Sydney; “not that it is a very large everybody after all, and we have not asked more neighbours than we can help, because it is to be a feast for all the chief tenants—here in this hall—then the poor people dine in the great barn, and the children drink tea later in the school. Come, little Caroline, you’ve done tea, and I have my old baby-house to show you. Come, Babie! Oh! isn’t it delicious to have you?”
When Sydney had carried off Babie, and the two mothers stood over the fire in the bedroom, Mrs. Evelyn said—
“So Lucas stays with his good old godfather. I honour him more than I can show.”
“We did not like to leave the old people alone. They were my kindest friends in my day of trouble.”
“You will not let me press him to run down for the one day, if he cannot leave them for more? Would he, do you think?”
“I believe he would, if you did it,” said Caroline, slowly; “but I ought not let you do so, without knowing his full reason for staying away.”
They both coloured as if they had been their own daughters, and Mrs. Evelyn smiled as she said—
“We have outgrown some of our folly about choice of profession.”