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WITH AN ATTEMPT AT HER OLD PRIDE, SHE TRIED TO DRAW HERSELF AWAY.

The Atonement of Leam Dundas.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER XIII.

OUR MARRIAGE.

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OT the youngest nor prettiest bride could have excited more interest on her launch into the unknown shoals and quicksands of matrimony, than did many-fleshed, mature and freckled Josephine on the achievement of her long-desired union with the twice - told widower. A marriage of one of their own was a rare event altogether to the North Astonians, and the marriage of one of the Hill girls was above all a circumstance that touched the heart of the place as nothing else

could touch it; one which even Carry Fairbairn on the day of her triumph over willow-wearing and that faithless Frank had not come near. It was 66 our marriage" and "our bride," and each member of the community took a personal interest in the proceedings, and felt implicated in the subsequent failure or success of the venture.

Of course they all confessed that it was a bold thing for Miss Josephine to be the third wife of a man-some of the more prudish pursed their lips and said they wondered how she could; and they wondered yet more how Mrs. Harrowby ever allowed it; and why, if Mr. Dundas must marry again-but they thought he might be quiet now-he had not taken a stranger instead of one who had been mixed up as it were with his other wives-but seeing that her day was passed, the majority, as has been said, held that she was in the right to take what she could get, and to marry even as a third wife was better than not to marry at all. And

then the neighbourhood knew Sebastian Dundas, and knew that although he had been foolish and unfortunate in his former affairs, there was no harm in him. If his second wife had died mysteriously, North Aston was generous enough not to suppose that he had poisoned her; and who could wonder at that dreadful Pepita having a stroke, sitting in the sun as she did on such a hot day, and so fat as she was? So that Mr. Dundas was exonerated from the suspicion of murder in either case, if credited with an amount of folly and misfortune next thing to criminal; and our marriage" was received with approbation-the Families sending tribute and going to the church as the duty they owed a Harrowby, and to show Sebastian that they considered he had done wisely at last, and chosen as was fitting.

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There was a little mild waggery about the future name of Ford House, and the bolder spirits offered shilling bets that it would be rechristened "Josephine Lodge" before the year was out. But, save this not very scorching satire, which also was not too well received by the majority, as savouring of irreverence to consecrated powers, the country looked on in supreme good humour, and the day came in its course, finding as much social serenity as it brought summer sunshine.

It was a pretty wedding, and everybody said that everybody looked very nice; which is always comforting to those whose souls are stitched up in their flounces, and whose happiness and self-respect rise or fall according to the becomingness of their attire. The village school children lining the church-walk strewed flowers for the bride's material and symbolic path. Dressed in a mixture of white, scarlet, and blue, they made a brilliant show of colour, and gave a curious suggestion of so many tricoloured flags set up along the path; but they added to the general gaiety of the scene, and they themselves thought Miss Josephine's wedding surely as grand as the Queen's!

There were five bridesmaids, including little Fina, whom kindly Josephine had specially desired should bear her part in the pageant which was to give her a mother and a friend. The remaining four were the two Misses Harrowby, Adelaide Birkett, as her long time confidante, and that other step-daughter, more legitimate if less satisfactory than Fina, Leam.

The first three of these four elder maids came naturally and of course; the last was the difficulty. When first asked Leam had refused positively, for her quite vehemently, to have hand or part in the wedding. It brought back too vividly the sin and the sorrow of the former time; and she despised her father's inconstancy of heart too much to care to assist at a service which was to her the service of folly and wickedness in one. She said, "No! no! I will not come. I, bridesmaid at papa's wedding bridesmaid to his third wife? no! I will not!" And she said it with an insistance, an emphasis that seemed immovable, and all the more so because it was natural.

But Josephine pleaded with her so warmly-she was evidently so

much in earnest in her wish, she meant to be so good and kind to the girl, to lift her from the shadows and place her in the sunshine of happiness-that Leam was at last touched deeply enough to give way. She had come now to recognise that fidelity to be faithful need not be churlish, and perhaps she was influenced by Josephine's final argument.

For when she had said "No! I cannot come to the wedding" for about the fourth time, Josephine shot her last bolt in these words:

"Oh, dear Leam! do come! I am sure Edgar will be hurt and displeased if you are not one of my bridesmaids. He will think you do not like the connection, and you know what a proud man he is; he will be so vexed with me!"

On which Leam said gravely, "I would not like to hurt or displease Major Harrowby; and I do not like or dislike the connection;" adding, after a pause, and putting on her little royal manner, "I will come."

Josephine's honest heart swelled with the humble gratitude of the self-abased.

"Good Leam! dear girl!" she cried, kissing her with tearful eyes and wet lips-poor Leam, who hated to be kissed, and who had by no means intended that her grave caress on the day of betrothal should be taken as a precedent and acted on unreservedly! And after she had kissed her frequently, she thanked her again effusively, as if she had received some signal grace that could hardly be repaid.

Her excess chilled Leam of course; but she held to her promise; and Josephine augured all manner of happy eventualities from the fact that her future step-daughter had yielded so sweetly on the first difference of desire between them, and had let herself be kissed with becoming patience. It was a good omen for the beginning of things; and all brides are superstitious; Josephine perhaps more so than most, in that she was more loving and more in love than most.

Yes, it was a pretty wedding, as they all said. The bride in the regulation white and pearls looked, if not girlish, yet comely and suitable to the bridegroom with his grey hair and sun-burnt skin. The two senior maids had stipulated for a preponderance of warm rose-colour in the costumes, which suited every one. It threw a flush on their faded elderliness which was not amiss, and did the best for them that could be done in the circumstances; it brought out into lovely contrast-the contrast of harmonies-Adelaide Birkett's delicate complexion, fair flaxen braids, and light blue eyes; it burnt like flame in Leam's dark hair, and made her large transcendent eyes glow as if with fire; while the little one looked like a rose the white and crimson petals of which enclosed a laughing golden-headed fairy.

It was admirable all through, and did credit to the generalising powers of the Hill, which had thus contrived to harmonise the three stages of womanhood and to offend none. Even Frank's fastidious taste was satisfied. So was Mrs. Frank's, who knew how things ought to be done. And as she was the rather elderly if very wealthy daughter of a

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