After this compliment she turned her back on him.
Momo, who was never behindhand when he meditated insolence and sallies, replied bravely—
“Go—go; when they give thee the benediction, it will be the first time thou hast received it during thine whole life, and I predict that it will be the last.”
The marriage was held in the village, at the house of Maria, the cabin of the fisherman being too small to contain all the assembly. Stein, who, in the exercise of his profession, had saved some money, although in most cases he gave his services gratuitously, desired to do the thing in grand style, and not to restrict the invitations. He had abundance of wine, lemonade, biscuits, and cakes, and three guitars. The guests sang, danced, screamed, without omitting wit and pleasantry, joyous and gay.
Maria came and went, served the refreshments, played the part of godmother of the wedding, and never ceased to repeat, “I am as content as if I were the bride;” to which brother Gabriel invariably added, “I am as content as if I were the husband.”
“Mother,” said Manuel to Maria, on seeing her pass near him, “the color of this dress is very gay for a widow.”
“Hold your tongue,” replied the mother. “Every thing ought to be gay on a day like this. Besides, ‘we must not look a gift horse in the mouth.’ Brother Gabriel, come along, take this glass of lemonade and this cake, and drink to the health of the newly married couple, before returning to the convent.”
“I drink to the health of the new-married couple before I return to the convent,” said brother Gabriel.
The good monk emptied his glass, and escaped before any one, except Maria, remarked his absence.
The reunion became animated by degrees.