At last the benediction was said, and the congregation began moving toward the door. Andy and Harry were out before the girls.
“Shall we do it?” asked the former.
“Oh, certainly,” replied Harry. And yet this was not said with the best grace in the world.
“There’s Aggy,” whispered Andy.
“I see,” returned Harry, moving forward, as Aggy stepped from the church-door. Just behind her was Jane, with her bright, dancing eyes, and lips just parting in a smile, as she caught sight of her lover. She moved forward more quickly, but stopped suddenly. Harry had spoken to Aggy, and was now walking away by her side. Just then Lilly James came forth, and Andy, crossing before Florence, who appeared at the same time, bowed to the maiden, and seeming not to see Florence, moved away from the church-door, smiling and chatting with a free and careless air. Neither of the young men looked behind to see the effect of all this upon the two young girls. But, to some extent, they imagined their feelings, and the picture fancy presented was not the most agreeable to contemplate.
It required an effort on the part of both Andy and Harry to continue to play the agreeable to the two young ladies they had substituted thus temporarily, and in sport, for their sweethearts, long enough to see them fairly home. They did not meet again until toward evening, and then each was on his way to seek the cottage-home of the one loved most dearly of any thing in the wide world.
“I wonder what they will say?” was uttered by Andy, in a doubting tone, as they moved along.
“Goodness knows! I’m afraid Jane took it hard,” remarked Harry. “I saw her countenance change as I turned to walk with Aggy.”
“It was a foolish prank, to make the best of it. But we must laugh it off with them.”
“I rather think we shall be paid back in our own coin,” said Harry. “Jane, I know, has a little spice about her.”