A little behind him, at a table, sat his clerk, ready to write down in letters of gold on this occasion, an official record of whatever was said or done.
At the right hand side of the “Official Recorder,” stood Prince Waratah and his “First Friend,” Prince Floral—the last remaining member of the Royal House of the Garden Fairies. It was a very nice thought on the part of Prince Waratah to have for his “best man,” so to speak, the somewhat lonely but lovable Prince of the scattered Garden Fairies, and when it became known that this was to be the case, there was not a Garden Fairy throughout the whole of Australia who did not feel a thrill of pride and joy in consequence!
Facing the “Official Recorder,” to the right and left, in two great triangles, sat the wedding guests. There was thus formed a middle pathway up which the Bridal Party was to come at the appointed hour. Whilst waiting for that auspicious moment all were interested to note the singular grace and beauty of the two noble Princes.
The Bridegroom, Prince Waratah, was naturally the first to come under observation. Taller than the average, his face aglow with animation and happiness, he was in truth a striking figure. He was superbly dressed! Upon his head—above the curls of glossy red it did not try to hide—he wore a golden coloured cap, from which there rose a splendid feather of the very shade that matched his hair. His coat was of a glossy green colour; the collar, edges and pockets being trimmed with a broad band of golden embroidery. At his throat and [[84]]wrists he wore the most beautiful white lace. His vest was of a rich yellow; and his knee-breeches and stockings were of delicate white. On his feet were shoes of the same colour as his vest; whilst his garters were of a deep-sea blue, fastened with diamond clasps!
Prince Floral was similarly attired as far as style was concerned, except that his coat was the colour of golden brown wall flowers, and his vest a perfect pink.
When the Bride appeared, leaning on her father’s arm, it was seen that her dress was of the purest white silk, into which was worked in golden thread, the daintiest sprays of Golden Wattle. And very lovely did she look, her face suffusing with blushes as she felt the gaze of so many pairs of eyes.
Two of her sisters were in attendance as “First Ladies,” or Bridesmaids. And they, too, were very beautiful in their dresses of hydrangea-blue, decorated and adorned with sashes and knots of faintest pink.
On their arrival at the platform, Prince Waratah stepped swiftly down, and, taking the Princess by the hand, together they mounted the steps and stood before the “Official Recorder.” In a clear, ringing voice the Prince then said to that Officer: “I, Prince Waratah, desire you to note that I, here and now, take the Princess Wattle Blossom, to be my wife!” The Princess immediately added: “And I, Princess Wattle Blossom, desire you to note, that I, here and now, take the Prince Waratah to be my husband and my Lord.” They both then turned towards the assembled guests, and the “Official Recorder,” standing a little to one side, raised his voice, and said, “Be it known that, before me, this day, the Prince Waratah and the Princess Wattle Blossom, have become husband and wife. So be it! Praise be to God!” And so, amidst a burst of acclamation and applause, the wedding ceremony ended!
“Together they mounted the steps and stood before the ‘Official Recorder.’ ”