‘Mr Portland, I have made up my mind, and it is to be.’
CHAPTER VIII.
The licence having been procured, the marriage ceremony before the registrar of Usk was accomplished in a very few minutes. Jack Portland had only to meet Nell at the office the following morning, and in half-an-hour they walked out again man and wife. The girl was very calm and collected over the whole affair—so calm indeed, that her new-made husband looked at her with surprise. They walked back to their respective destinations by a by-path, so that they might converse unseen, though nobody in Usk would have been very much astonished if they had encountered one of the gentlemen from the Hall taking a stroll with such a notorious beauty as Farmer Llewellyn’s daughter.
‘Well, Nell,’ commenced Jack Portland, ‘so it really is un fait accompli, and you are Mrs Portland. Have you told the old people yet?’
‘No! I waited until, as you say, it should be an accomplished thing.’
‘When shall you break the news to them? Won’t they be very much surprised? How will they take it, do you think?’
‘Oh! they will only feel too honoured at my having made such a good match—at my having married a “real gentleman,”’ replied Nell, with quiet sarcasm. ‘What else should farmers feel?’
‘You’ll have to tell them before you join me at “The Three Pilchards” this evening.’
‘Perhaps! It depends on what humour they may be in. At all events, you can announce the fact to them to-morrow morning.’
‘What a funny girl you are, to want to run away from home in so secret a manner. Is it because of Ilfracombe’s vicinity? Are you afraid he will be jealous? It would be very unjust if he were. A regular dog-in-the-manger sort of business.’