"She thinks evil—that's why. She thinks you are on my side against her, Auna."
"If she's against you, then I'm against her. I've stopped loving her this good while now, because she won't let me talk about you to mother. And I can see in mother's eyes that she's wishful to hear. And it's cruel I can't tell her about things."
Jacob considered and weighed the gravity of the situation. There was still no link between himself and his wife but such as Auna could furnish.
And as Bullstone reflected, Avis and her husband came before Margery at the post-office.
She was in bed to-day, but she sat up while the pair stood beside her. They were going to Exeter for a week of honeymoon, and Avis promised to see the cathedral and listen to an anthem.
"There's no Chosen Few in Exeter, so far as grandmother knows," said Robert's bride; "but she thinks there will be no harm if we worship in the cathedral o' Sunday. And we're going to the Museum also."
"Now tell me about the wedding. Did Bob speak out brave and clear, Avis?"
"Yes he did then—so loud that one or two in the church tittered—so Auna told us after. And I spoke out loud too. And grandfather and father signed the book in the vestry; and pretty near everybody waited to see me and Robert march out. And there was a lot of rice flung at me in the churchyard by old Billy Marydrew, but grandmother said he didn't ought."
"I do hope you'll soon be better," said Robert. "Mother's very wishful for you to come up to Owley in the spring time. She's dearly like for you to come, Mrs. Bullstone."
"And so would I like it, and perhaps I will, Bob," answered Margery. "Tell me more who was in the church."