Two days after our hero and heroine had plighted their troth in the little arbour, Mat, with Annie by his side, requested the whole of the family to meet them on the verandah; and when they were assembled, he told them of his wish—and Annie’s—to be married in the old country, in his forest home, so that he might once more see the land of his birth, before settling for good in Australia.
In this wish, the fair girl by his side seconded him, provided that her father and mother would come home also. “Yes, that is what we want,” added Mat, “and we ask Mr. Tabor as a great favour to come too, and marry us.”
Many plans were discussed before the little family council separated, but the wishes of Mat and Annie were ultimately agreed to.
The squire had long been contemplating a change for his wife, after the rough times which she had been through, and as he actually hinted at a month on the Continent, perhaps in Paris, Mrs. Bell appeared suddenly to approve of the marriage of her daughter with our forester, and professed herself as keen to make a start for the old country without loss of time.
Tom decided to stay and look after the station. He had no attractions in the old country, but much to occupy himself with at Bulinda Creek, and Bell was relieved that he could leave such a good manager behind him during his absence.
Parson Tabor was glad to have the chance of going to and returning from England with those who were so dear to him, and, besides the pleasure of their company during a long voyage, he had relations at home, whom he had not seen for many years, and so he seized the opportunity which might never occur again.
“Besides,” as he said to our hero with a smile, “I told you of my love for Annie, which I fear now is a hopeless attachment, but at least I shall not now have the misery of pining in solitude, as I should have if I stayed behind at the Creek.”
A few weeks later our hero and heroine found themselves in the New Forest—a happy couple, indeed.
They had been married quietly at Boldre Church by Parson Tabor; the latter had then accompanied Bell and his wife for a trip to Paris, previous to their all returning to Australia together.
Mat and his bride were spending their honeymoon at Lyndhurst, or rather making that little town their headquarters, for they were seldom at home, but wandering about, sometimes on foot, but more often mounted on forest ponies, together they explored the scenes of Mat’s early life.