| Show I I i iiillliiiliillnliiilllHlIlim I1111II1II1II1II111II1II11111111II1 AT A WEDDING C illllHhIIllIllhiHllHIll1llIllllllIllIllllllllIllhIllIllllh 11I1 r BY ANTHONY HOPE Author of The Prisoner of Zenda The t Chronicles of Count Antonio etc Copyright 1S95 by Anthony Hope I admit that I attired myself with 1 unusual care It may have been weak of me but I did not wish Phil lippa March to thank heaven that she was walking down the aisle on Wor eleys arm instead of on mine And the first person I saw when I got inside the church was my cousin Flo dressed with quite remarkable taste and elaboration I sat down beside her depositing my new hat on the seat with great care I know exactly what youre thinking think-ing I whispered with a sarcastic smileHush Hush Its church said Flo opening open-Ing a prayer book But he wont look at you I pursued pur-sued malignantly He will wear a proud happy smile and will have no eyes he never had any to speak of except for his blushing bride 1 hardly expected Flo to reply to thip remark but after a moments pause she observed in a singularly incisive whisper She wont blush I was annoyed Women are so vanting in magnanimity hI bet you a sovereign she does said I taking out my betting book And I dont believe hell look at her all the time Ill take you the double event I said angrily A dozen of gloves against a new hat The best gloves asked Flo her gaze fixed on the marriage service You shall hoose em yourself said I and I booked the bet remarking remark-ing He will notice nobody but her k He will not observe Florence that yours is a new bonnet Ive worn it before said Flo much vexed at my penetration Before the looking glass I retorted re-torted scornfully Thats all At this moment Aunt Maud and the colonel entered the edifice As they passed as Aunt Maud observed in a benevolent whisper All there are the dear children together as usual I suppose Flo heard Looking at tl1p ppllln hp IkM1 I took my hat I opened the door of the pew In another second I should hac been goneperhaps for ever but it so chanced that just as I j stepped out Phillipa March walked Ux r the aisle on her fathers arm We ov narrowl escaped a collision I got t back safe but flustered into the pew How awkward you are said Flo Its an allegory said I rather pleased on reflection The service passed off without interruption in-terruption Nothing occurred to stop the marriage The procession headed by the happy pair was formed to walk down the aisle At this point Flo nudged me violently Look cheerful she commanded peremptorily Look cheerful yourself I rejoined re-joined you might be at a funeral < Mght I asked Flo too frighten L l ed to be resentful and she straight gfeft y assumed a most dazzling smile 5j > 3e also moved a little nearer me 4 What hypocrites I began but I saw Phillippa Mar Phillipa Wors well Phillippas es upon me Without With-out hesitation I squeezed up against Flo and grinned rapturously I knew that I should hear about it after waids but I could not afford to consider con-sider that They passed by us Worsley certainly cer-tainly did not look at Flos bonnet that I am prepared to take my oath tobut undoubtedly Phillippa blush ed I had won I put my book back In my pocket and followed Flo with a happy smile I found her in the act of kissing Phillippa And you looked perfectly charming charm-ing dear said Flo How do Gratulate you I observed ob-served to Worseley who was looking extremely uncomfortable Then I shook hands with Phillippa expres 1 sing a wish for her happiness I am perfectly happy said she erfectly Thats nonsense you know I began be-gan Nobody in this world can be perfectly 0 Mr Vansittart just wait till and Phillippa glanced expressively at rio who was telling Worseley that most men were so awkward over being be-ing married but that hewell you Know the sort of thing girls are complexion is never What are you smiling at like that 0 nothing says I with a sardonic laughWill Will you be good enough to tell me please Dick When you give me my hat I I hate a man whos mean There was a pause We hadreached now the road in which the house was I and we turned down it The carriage I I containing the bride and bridegroom was just behind us Walk closer to me cried Flo In a hasty whisper I ranged up A sudden thought struck me I say Flo I observed I wonder if theyre sorry by now Flo glanced at me out of the corner of her eye I expect he she began but I laid a finger on her arm I should think she I began Flo drew a little away from me The carriage car-riage dashed by Flo and I stood looking look-Ing at one another We cant go on like this I said decisively We must settle it The first question isdid he look at your bonnet Now I will look at your bonnet and then you will be able to I decide whether he did the same I 0 do you think that will be satisfactory satis-factory asked Flo with a hesitating smile Eminently I answered I began to look Presently Flo said But youre not looking at the bonnet bon-net at all You must really let me do the thing in my own way I pleaded 0 but Dick heres somebody cornIng corn-ing We are doing nothing wrong said I sturdily Did he do it Flo Kno not like that she admitted reluctantly Exactly said I triumphantly I Knew he didnt I knew he couldnt Just ask them to put a twoinch band on the hat for Uncle John you know But wait a minute said Flo eagerly eager-ly There is something else I recollect nothing else said I I was still looking at Flos bonnet She had to blush murmured Flo It was a double event you know Of course it was I conceded recollecting recol-lecting But theres not the least doubt that she blushed I saw it plainly Several of our fellowguests happened hap-pened at this moment to turn the corner of the road Dick said Flo watch me when I these people pass and then youll be able to tell whether its the same thing In a moment I saw that I was done I had not hitherto found it necessary to lay any stress on Flos complexion and it is sufficient to remark that it is such as to enable her to blush in a perfectly unique manner 1 continued to look at her bonnet and as the peo pie went by she blushed Then she I raised her eyes to mine in inquiry I always speak the truth at any cost There was not said 1 candidly but sadly a vestige of anything of the sort on PhilIppas face Ill have them long and crumply cried Flo triumphantly clasping her hands Theyre out of fashion now I remarked re-marked hoping that it was true Crumply ones are very expensive Are they But you once said you likfc1 them Dick I gazed at Flo In some astonishment I And if you liked them Dick I shouldnt mind how unfashionable they were No I shouldnt a bit really I do not pretend to be more hardhearted hard-hearted than most men I was very much touched and as we began to walk again towards the house I whispered whis-pered to Flo It was two dozen wasnt itO it-O Dick will you really Yes rather On your honor You wont drawback draw-back No on my honortwo dozen all crumply Of course I ought to have known The very moment Flo obtained this promise from me she ceased to blush she settled her bonnet she assumed a staid and distant air she quickened her pace and she observed Really I think we have been silly enough for one morning dont you DickQuite said I savagely thinking of the two dozen Its rather expensive expen-sive Flo was just entering the gate She caused for a moment turned around to me lifted her eyebrows smiled yes blushed again and remarked I Its nothing at all to what it will be some day 2 I I I II I ii C I ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH taught to say Some people call it good manners I call it humbug Worseley had looked an assthats the plain truth of it They passed on I caught hold of the beadles arm Do you have many weddings here I asked He said that they had a great 31 many manDid Did this couple I inquired look happier than usual orerthe re a yerse yerseNever Never seen a pair more bloomin sir said he Come along said I sharply to CFlo We may as well walk up to the house I dont sec observed Flo In a cold tone as we started why you asked the beadle that As if you werent listening with all your ears said I scornfully PlO took no notice of this remark but went on in the calmest possible manner to observe I think Id better have my gloves white they are always useful I shall have my hat Mack said I Now Dick expostulated Flo I k dont expect jou to be lund or generous gener-ous or considerate 0101 nice or af 3 S Zectionate but you might be honest t You know he locked at it J l < Neyer said I And sh blushed il red as this rose t It wasnt < i blush dear said Flo 1 much apparent gentleness The I girl wpry warm and her I I also paused fora moment leaning I my hand on the doorpost These people said I waving my hat which I held in the other hand I towards the house if they find any pleasure in it may get mrrled every day for all T care I And we went to see the presents |
