The truth is that the Wallings and all concerned in the affair had kept the intended wedding not only out of the papers but out of all gossiping circles. They did not want to have a sensational supplement to the magnificent pageantry of the grand Hay-Leegh wedding. And their reticence had even extended to a firm refusal to indorse any journalistic report of the appearance of the rightful claimant to the Haymore estate.
“Don’t you think we hev bin afther making a mistake in the place, Mr. Longman?” inquired Dandy, looking mistrustingly up to the closed and silent building.
“No; we’re the first that’s come, that’s all. Walk in.”
And so saying he led the way, opening first the great black walnut outer door and then the red cloth inner door and entering the church.
There they found the sexton, who asked them for cards.
Longman produced the three informal notes written by Mrs. Walling, and the sexton, after looking at them, marshaled the three men up the aisle, between empty pews, to seats near the altar, where they sat down.
When they had become accustomed to the “dim religious light” of the interior, they perceived that they themselves were the only persons in the church.
“You see that we are early,” said Longman.
“Well, sure, thin, I’m not sorry. I can compose the narves av me,” replied Dandy.
They drew off their overcoats, folded them, and put them under the seats, shoved their silk hats after the coats, and then took off their woolen mitts, rolled them up, and put them in their pockets, and posed themselves for the scene expected.