At all events, the bride's pretty little face showed no trace of tears now, as she came slowly up the aisle on her brother's arm.
Following her, and casting triumphant and self-satisfied glances from left to right, was the solitary bridesmaid.
Ruthie was a plain little girl, and it was impossible not to feel that attempt at embellishment had done much towards making her still plainer.
Her short white skirts stuck out to ungraceful dimensions above brown-stockinged legs and strapped shoes that, to Julian's disgusted perceptions, had never appeared of more solid proportions, and the broad sash tied firmly round her person was of a disastrous shade of salmon pink.
A second edition of the sash reappeared round the wide straw hat that Ruthie, more suâ, wore upon the extreme back of her head.
Her thick, stiff brown hair showed only too evident manifestations of having been severely treated by Sarah, in the manner known as "damp-plaiting" on the previous evening.
The whole effect was rather that of a young South Sea Islander introduced for the first time into European garb and aware of novelty.
The College staff was sufficiently well represented. Iris had expressed a sort of whole-hearted wish to see "all the dear people from Culmouth College" in the church, and this rather reckless aspiration had not been left without response.
Cooper was prominent in immaculate gloves, with Miss Sandiloe beside him, coy and alert both at once and poised first on one foot and then on the other, as though her shoes hurt her feet. Julian saw Miss Marchrose, looking better than he had ever seen her, in a bench at the bottom of the church. She wore a soft felt hat that became her, and her changeful face was full of colour.
"She looks happier," thought Julian, and immediately felt a doubtful foreboding as to the source of that look.