CHAPTER LXXV.THE INTERRUPTED CEREMONY.
That night, a small steamer put in at a landing, not far from Mrs. Oakley’s cottage, and a crowd of cheerful, richly dressed persons came, in scattered groups, along the shore, chattering, laughing, and making the sweet air joyous with merriment. There was one group quieter than the rest, and over which a gentle serenity, almost amounting to sadness, seemed to reign. This was the bridal party. George De Marke walked gravely by his brother, leading the adopted son by the hand; and the child now and then brought a smile to his lips, by his pretty surprise at the number of persons who seemed to be visitors at his home.
At the right hand of the widow-bride moved the stately Mrs. Judson, all smiles and condescension to the man whom, a few days before, she was ready to crush into the earth with sovereign disdain. Her dress of purple and gold brocade swept the grass with its rich folds, and she wore her mantilla of old point as a queen displays the ermine of royalty.
There was no bridesmaid, for Mrs. Oakley, in her heart, had resolved that Catharine should occupy that position. She hoped to see her in time to enter into all those explanations which would render the position unexceptionable to her friend.
As they approached the cottage, the bride looked anxiouslyforward, expecting to see Catharine coming forth to greet her; in this she was disappointed.
The visitors, many of them, remained out-of-doors, for the evening was delightful, and a pleasant breeze stole up from the water. Those who preferred it came in-doors, and all around the dwelling, inside and out, groups of happy people wandered to and fro, ready at any moment to be summoned to the marriage ceremony.
Mrs. Oakley went to her room, a little nervous, and somewhat anxious about the non-appearance of her intended bridesmaid. The chambermaid was very busy, upon her knees, unpacking a trunk which contained the bridal paraphernalia. There was a half sneer upon her face, as she unfolded the snowy robe, and laid out the mist-like veil of Brussels’ point, with which the bridal wreath was entwined, ready for the fair brow it was to crown.
“What is this? two dresses, and white lace trimmings for both,” said Jane, gruffly, laying the dresses side by side, across the bed. “According to my judgment, one will be too many.”
Jane muttered the last words in her throat, as she stood eying the bridal robes askance.
“Yes, yes,” said the bride, hurriedly, “the dress nearest you, wreath and everything, is intended for Miss Barr. Send some one to say that we are here, and tell her to lose no time, we shall be waiting for her. Of course, you gave my invitations.”
The girl answered, that she had delivered both; and as she spoke, the bride saw a smile, creeping, like a viper, across her lips.
“They will come, of course. Nothing has gone wrong, I hope.”
“Oh, it is a sure thing, ma’am; they’ll come.”
Mrs. Oakley had no time to regard the manner of this reply. She felt a little uneasy at the absence of Catharine,more because it would delay an exculpation of her lover, than from any doubt of her willingness to accept the compliment she had extended in the invitation.
“Well, well, it is no matter,” she said, talking pleasantly to herself, as Jane disappeared with the garments she had been directed to have ready for the bridesmaid. “Of course, she will be confident that all is right, or it would not have come to this. I wonder what dear, proud mamma will say to my choice of a bridesmaid. At any rate, she must admit her a lady in everything. Nothing but her refinement and gentle goodness have made those old people regard her as a daughter of the house.
As the bride was arranging things thus cheerfully in her mind, the lady mother came in, her purple silk rustling as she walked, and a cluster of marabout feathers trembling like a handful of snowflakes, where it fastened the frost-like lace of her elaborate headdress.
As Mrs. Judson came into the room, the chambermaid stole quietly out, cautiously keeping her back toward that lady.
“Not ready yet,” cried the stately dame, drawing on her own white gloves with deliberate gravity. “I have brought my maid to help you, child. Come, come, begin at once, or you will be flushed, the most vulgar thing that can happen to a person in your position. Be active,” she continued, speaking to a woman who had followed her into the room, “do Mrs. Oakley’s hair at once; I will stand by and direct you.”
Smiling and blushing a little, the bride placed herself in a seat, and taking out her comb, allowed her raven tresses to fall in a torrent over her shoulders. The toilet now commenced in earnest. Braid after braid of those glittering locks was wreathed around her shapely head, as she sat, with a rose-tinted dressing-gown gathered over the snow of her bridal garments, while the woman adorned her person; andMrs. Judson gave directions, making herself more than usually gracious.
At length the lady’s maid had completed her work. Around that coil of raven braids lay a garland of white roses, and as the bride stood up, allowing the dressing-gown to fall in rosy masses around her feet, a cloud of misty lace, touched as it were with traces of early frost, rippled in transparent waves down the folds of her moire dress, sweeping to the snow of her satin slippers. Thus the bride stood, lovely as a dream, beneath the proud smile of her mother.
“But the bridesmaid! where is she?” questioned the elder lady, looking at a clock upon the mantelpiece. “It is nearly time.”
“She will be here, I dare say,” answered the bride, stepping before the dressing-glass, with a faint blush at her own exceeding beauty. “You will like her, I am sure, mamma. She is so sweet and lady-like.”
“But you have not told me who she is, daughter?”
“Oh, she is one of the dearest creatures in the world, a sort of protégé, or adopted daughter of Mrs. Ford’s, up at the old stone house, yonder. Don’t be impatient, she will be in time.”
Mrs. Judson shook her head very pleasantly, for she was in high good humor that day.
“Ah! I understand; some young girl, without advantages, that you want to bring out. One of these days you will see how foolish such things are.”
Mrs. Oakley was about to offer some good-natured protest. But as she turned to speak, they both heard a slight commotion in the upper hall.