"Child, child, this will never do," said Lady Sanby, wiping away the tears with her own handkerchief. "A bride must not weep; it's unlucky."
"Nothing can be unlucky while I am with Ralph," sobbed Audrey; "but if you knew, Lady Sanby--"
"My dear, I know everything. Ralph has told me all. And now you had better get married at once, as time is passing."
Shawe returned at this moment, and then the vicar made his appearance in his surplice. It was an exceedingly quiet wedding. Lady Sanby gave the bride away, and the verger was one of the witnesses to the ceremony. A few idlers had, as usual, collected in the body of the church, and commented on the good looks of the bride, but the female portion of the idlers admired the handsome bridegroom. When the knot was safely tied Ralph kissed his wife, and this example was followed by Lady Sanby.
"And now, dear, you can call me grannie," said the old dame, which was a wonderful mark of favour to be shown, as Audrey well knew.
But Lady Sanby's kindness did not stop here. She took the young couple to a fashionable restaurant and gave them a wedding-breakfast, and finally drove them in her motor to the railway station, whence they departed for a quiet seaside town on the south coast. When the train started, and the married pair were alone, Audrey threw herself into Ralph's arms.
"Oh, darling, I am happy at last," she said. "Let us forget the past."
But although Ralph kissed her and agreed, he knew that Perry Toat was yet working at the Pink Shop mystery.