Having accomplished his object, he returned home without having once met his old chum. He was delighted, however, to tell Gertrude and Hannah, that rumor spoke highly of the young attorney; who was bending the whole force of his mind to his business.
Nor was the wardrobe of the child-bride so neglected as might have been supposed. Among Miss Goldby's relatives was a widow who kept a fashionable mantua-maker's establishment in the Empire city. To this place was conveyed a large, old fashioned camphor-wood trunk, in which Hannah had hoarded some articles formerly belonging to her mistress. There was a large velvet cloak, bought when Mrs. Wallingford had plenty of money; several dress patterns of muslin and gauze not made up; a lilac satin with abundance to make it into the present mode, beside shawls and laces in variety, and some valuable jewelry.
Several entire days were devoted to shopping in search of more common articles, bed and table linen, etc., etc., so that when Mr. Dudley came on for his wife, he found five immense trunks marked Chicago, packed and ready for transportation.
[CHAPTER VI.]
NEWS FROM THE WEST.
THE wedding was to be strictly private. This point Gertrude had yielded to her brother, who was unwilling that any stranger's eye should intrude on an occasion so painful to him. The husband elect arrived only the previous evening, and the nuptial ceremony took place at Rose Cottage at nine o'clock in the morning. There was a handsome breakfast at eleven; and the bridal party took the boat for Albany at two.
Directly after the ceremony, Edward invited the wedded pair into the library, where he put into his sister's hand a deed of gift of the house he had purchased, explaining that he had furnished it with her money; and that, on a number of the articles, she would find a mark showing that it could be exchanged if not in accordance with her taste.
Gertrude was wholly overcome at this generous gift, especially as she knew how her wilfulness had grieved her brother. She threw her arms around his neck and begged him always to remember that she loved him next to Paul; and that she never, never would forget his kindness.
The parting between poor Hannah and her darling was so painful that all were glad when it was over; and the self-sacrificing woman was free to give vent to her grief. For Gerty's sake she had put a violent constraint upon her own feelings; dressing her dear child in the bridal garments with her own hands, and decking her fair head with orange blossoms. Indeed, since she had found it must be so;—that no arguments could avail with the self-willed girl, she had abstained from useless reproach, and substituted such counsel as her true woman's heart enabled her to give.
Though her opinion of Mr. Dudley had never changed since she first begged Edward to find some excuse for shortening his friend's visit; yet never after the marriage was settled did she, by word or look, give evidence of her distrust.