Mr. Embury, too, paid a flying visit to the city, which resulted in an elegant set of jewels for his bride and some new articles of furniture for her apartments.
d.i.c.k arrived at about the expected time and was joyfully welcomed. His surprise and delight in view of Molly"s prospects were quite sufficient to satisfy her, and so greatly was he pleased with the country that in a few days he announced his purpose to remain.
Cyril had received a unanimous call from the two churches, and after mature deliberation accepted it, upon which Elsie doubled the salary she had formerly paid, and told him playfully and in private that if he would get a wife whom she could approve she would repair, enlarge, and refurnish the cottage.
"You are extremely kind and generous cousin," he stammered, coloring deeply, "and I--I would be only too glad to follow out your suggestion."
"Well," she returned in the same playful tone, "what is there to hinder?"
"The only woman I could fancy, could love, is so beautiful, fascinating, accomplished, so altogether attractive in every way, that--I fear she could hardly be expected to content herself with a poor minister."
"I cannot say how that is," Elsie answered with a smile, "but judging by myself I should think she would give her hand wherever her heart has gone; and if I were a man I should not despair until I had asked and been refused. And, Cyril, though not rich in this world"s goods, I consider you a fit match for the highest--you who are a son of the King."
"That sonship is more to me than all the world has to give," he said, looking at her with glistening eyes, "but to others it may seem of little worth."
"Not to any one who is of the right spirit to be truly an helpmeet to you. I think I know where your affections are set, my dear cousin, and that by her the true riches are esteemed as by you and me."
He thanked her warmly by word and look for her kind sympathy and encouragement, and there the interview ended.
But that night, when Elsie was about retiring, Isa came to her, all smiles, tears and blushes, to tell the story of love given and returned.
She and Cyril had spent the evening wandering about the grounds alone together in the moonlight, and he had wooed and won his heart"s choice.
"Dear Isa, I am very, very glad for you and for Cyril," Elsie whispered, clasping her cousin close, and kissing again and again the blushing cheek. "I cannot wish anything better for you than that you may be as happy in your wedded life as my dear husband and I were."
"Nor could I ask a better wish," Isa returned with emotion; "but ah! I fear I can never be the perfect wife you were! And, cousin, I can hardly hope for mamma"s approval of my choice."
"Do not trouble about that now; I think we shall find means to win her consent."
"I think grandpa and uncle are sure to approve."
"Yes; and they will be powerful advocates with Aunt Louise; so I think you need not hesitate to be as happy as you can," Elsie answered with a smile. "Do you wish the matter kept secret?"
"Mr. Keith is with grandpa and uncle now," Isa said, blushing, "and I don"t care how soon Aunt Rose and the girls and d.i.c.k know it; but if you please, the rest may wait until mamma is heard from."
Molly was delighted, though not greatly astonished, when Isa told her the next morning.
"How nice that we shall be near neighbors," she exclaimed. "I wish you would just decide to make it a double wedding."
"Thank you," laughed Isa; "do you forget that it is now just one week from your appointed day? or do you think my trousseau could be gotten up in a week, though it takes three for yours?"
"I really didn"t stop to think," Molly acknowledged with a happy laugh; "but, Isa, you are so beautiful that you need no finery to add to your attractions, while my plainness requires a good deal."
"Molly," Isa said, standing before her and gazing fixedly and admiringly into the glad, blooming face, "I think you have neglected your mirror of late or you wouldn"t talk so."
A great surprise came to Molly on the morning of her wedding day. Her cousin Elsie gave her ten thousand dollars, and Mr. Embury settled fifty thousand upon her, beside presenting her with the jewels he had purchased--a set of diamonds and pearls.
Also she received many handsome presents from uncle, aunt, brother and cousins, and from Mr. Embury"s children.
He had sent for his two boys, fine manly fellows of ten and twelve, to be present at the marriage, which was to take place in the evening, and had brought them that morning for a short call upon his chosen bride.
She and they seemed mutually pleased, and Molly, who had been somewhat apprehensive lest they should dislike the match, felt as if the last stone were removed from her path.
She gratified Mr. Embury greatly by a request that the baby girls and all the servants from Magnolia Hall might be present, and that he would let Louis, his eldest son, stand up with them as third groomsman, d.i.c.k and Harold Travilla being first and second.
Isa, the younger Elsie and Violet were the bridesmaids, all wearing white for the occasion.
It was a very quiet wedding indeed, no one at all present but the members of the two families, servants included--these last grouping themselves about the open door into the hall.
Molly sat in her chair looking very sweet and pretty in white silk, point lace, and abundance of orange blossoms freshly gathered from the trees on the lawn.
The bridesmaids looked very lovely also; groom and groomsmen handsome and happy.
Mr. Keith made the ceremony short but solemn and impressive. The usual greetings and congratulations followed; Elsie"s to the bride a whispered hope, accompanied with tears and smiles, that every year might find herself and husband nearer and dearer to each other.
An elegant banquet succeeded, and shortly after the happy bridegroom bore his new-made wife away to her future home.
CHAPTER XVII.
"But happy they! the happiest of their kind!
Whom gentler stars unite, and in one fate Their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blend.
... . . for naught but love Can answer love, and render bliss secure."
--_Thomson"s Seasons._
As no invitations to the wedding were to be sent to relatives at a distance, it was thought quite as well not to inform them of Molly"s engagement until after the marriage had taken place; beside, as the preparations were so hurried, no one had much time for correspondence.
Isadore Conly did not once during the three weeks write to Roselands, excusing herself on the double plea that her last letter remained unanswered, and that she was particularly busy about the trousseau.
She found little time to spare from that which was not taken up in walking or riding with Cyril.
He proposed writing to her mother immediately after declaring his love; but she begged him to delay a little till her grandfather and uncle should have time to consider how to bring their influence to bear upon Mrs. Conly in the way most likely to win her approval of his suit.
The day after the wedding saw a number of letters directed to Roselands, dropped into the Viamede mail-bag, and a few days later they reached their destination.
The family--consisting of Mrs. Conly, Calhoun, Arthur, Virginia, Walter (who was at home for a few days on a furlough, being now a lieutenant in the U. S. Army), and several younger ones--were at breakfast when Pomp came in with the mail-bag.
Calhoun opened it and distributed the contents.
"Letters from Viamede at last," he remarked; "three for you, mother, from grandpa, uncle and--somebody else; one for Walter (d.i.c.k"s handwriting! I didn"t know he was there) and one for Virginia."
"From Isa," Virginia said as she glanced at the superscription; then tearing open the envelope, and glancing down the first page, "Molly is married! to a rich planter, too! Will wonders never cease!"
A simultaneous exclamation of surprise from all present.
"Nonsense, Isa"s hoaxing you," said Walter, stirring his coffee. "Here, let me see the letter."