Pippin and Mary spring down. Seeing them, the cottage becomes all eyes, guests, helpers, delegates, crowding to the windows. Most of the women begin to cry. Foolish creatures! What is the matter with them? And why, on the other hand, do most of the men suddenly develop head colds, and flourish handkerchiefs violently? Is it just because it is the common way at weddings? Or is it because these two young people have been patient, valiant, and steadfast, and now, after the long days of their waiting, there is something in their faces that brings the tear as well as the smile to all that see?
Here they are, hand in hand. Everybody is shouting, "Pippin! Pippin!"
and crowding round him and Mary. The delegates rather think everybody has gone suddenly mad, but they don"t feel quite sane themselves somehow. Something in the air, something in Pippin"s face and voice, goes to their heads too, and they find themselves shaking hands with everybody, and echoing the chaplain"s shout,
"Glorious! Glorious! Great guns, this is glorious!"
The time has come. The workers hurry in, breathless but demure, the guests smooth their dresses and settle with a solemn gesture.
"Dearly beloved--"
Then, the seven minutes over that have made Pippin and Mary man and wife, what a rush of kisses, slaps on the back, handshakings, good wishes, congratulations! Amid all which Mrs. Baxter and Mrs. Bailey nod to each other and steal out, beckoning to their aids. "Dish up!" the word pa.s.ses round, low and emphatic. The Baxters fly, the Baileys flutter, Mr. Wisk and his pointing nose get in everybody"s way and narrowly escape upsetting Mr. Baxter as he comes proudly into the dining-room, carrying his life"s masterpiece, the wedding cake. Such a cake! Frosting as many inches deep as frosting can be; citron and angelica, plums and comfits--even Solomon in all his glory had no cake like this. Mr. Baxter, in his rapture hinting at this, is promptly rebuked by Mrs. Baxter, and told not to be profane, father; before the boy, too!
"Breakfast is served!" says Mr. Baxter, as if he were reading the Declaration of Independence.
In they all come, Pippin and Mary leading off, the guests following in a joyous mob, the delegates bringing up the rear, smiling twice as hard as when they came. Most extraordinary occasion! Must remember all this to tell the wife. Most extraordinary people!
They have all got round the table, no one knows how. Pippin and Mary are standing, still hand in hand, all heaven in their faces. Pippin looks round, and his eyes fill with tears like all the rest. He bows his head for a moment, his lips moving silently; then he looks up, and his smile lightens the room.
Once more his eyes make the circuit of the table, every face kindling from his glance. He lifts his hand, and makes his reverence like a young birch tree in the wind.
"Mary and folks," says Pippin; "seein" the Lord has dealt with us not accordin" to--I would say _my_ sins, Mary not havin" any, nor I wouldn"t presume likely any of you dandy folks--what I would say--shall we praise Him in song?"
He lifts his head; his voice breaks out, solemn, jubilant, triumphant.
"Praise G.o.d, from Whom all blessings flow!"