"The little clubs with ribbons wound around them," said Ned, "to hit the boys with when they don't keep still."
Jack laughed more heartily than before.
"I guess we won't hit the boys," said he. "They needn't keep any stiller than they want to, at my wedding."
And then he explained to us the difference between a marshal and an usher.
"A marshal," said he, "is a sort of commander, and the little club, as you call it, is the symbol of his authority. But an usher stands in the relation of servant to those whom he shows to their places."
"I must tell Charlie Garrison about that," said Ned; "it was he who started the story about the little clubs. Charlie's an awful good boy, but he generally gets things wrong. I'm afraid he's too ready to believe everything anybody tells him."
In trying to describe Charlie, Ned had so exactly described himself, that we all broke into a smile.
As we were walking away, Holman suggested that perhaps while we were about it we ought to have got instructions as to the reception, also; for there was to be a brief one at the house immediately after the ceremony in the church.
"Oh, I know all about that," said Phaeton.
"Then let's hear how it is," said Holman.