Such a startled look as Tackleton gave him!
“It is too bad, sir,” said Edward, holding out May’s left hand, especially the third finger, “that the young lady can’t accompany you to the church; but as she has been there once this morning, perhaps you’ll excuse her.”
Tackleton looked hard at the third finger, and took a ring out of his waistcoat pocket.
“Miss Slowboy,” said Tackleton, “will you have the kindness to throw that into the fire? Thank you.”
“It was a previous engagement, quite an old engagement, that prevented my wife from keeping her appointment with you, I assure you,” said Edward.
“Mr. Tackleton will do me the justice to say that I told him about this old engagement many times, and that I never could forget it,” said May, blushing.
“Oh, certainly,” said Tackleton. “Oh, to be sure! Oh, it’s all right, it’s quite correct. You are now Mrs. Edward Plummer, I infer?”
“That’s the name,” said the bridegroom.
“Ah, I shouldn’t have known you,” said Tackleton. “I give you joy, sir.”
With these words, he hurried away, merely stopping at the gate to take the flowers and favors off the horse’s head, and to kick the horse once, just to relieve his feelings.