Mrs. Butler sniffed. She would not retort again; but she was conscious of a little sense of uneasiness. It was difficult, even for a person as blind as she considered her sister Maria, to mistake that snuff-colored, drawn silk bonnet, ornamented with a huge bow in front of pale blue ribbon. That bonnet was celebrated. It had been worn by Mrs. Bell in season and out of season for many long years; it had been altered in shape; it had been turned. Sometimes the bow which filled up the gap in front was yellow, sometimes red, sometimes mauve. But every one in the town knew that for the wedding the bow on Mrs. Bell"s bonnet was to be a delicate and bridal blue. This was to be her sole wedding adornment.
To the length of purchasing that bow she had gone, and no further.
Therefore now Mrs. Butler felt uncomfortable. If the Hart.i.tes secured the front seats in church she would have to own to defeat and humiliation. Was Hunt--could Hunt be faithless? He was known to be something of a toady, something of a Sergeant Eitherside, a Vicar of Bray sort of individual. To all appearance Hunt was a sworn Beatricite, but if by any chance he had heard something in favor of the Hart.i.tes, he was just the man to go over to them.
"There are about ten or twenty people with Mrs. Bell," said Miss Maria.
"I"m sure that"s Mrs. Bell. Yes, that _is_ her bonnet."
She raised herself on tip-toe, clutching hold of Mrs. Morris"s arm as she did so.
"It"s freezing cold standing by this door," said Mrs. Morris, shivering.
"I"ll have an awful attack after this. Poor Beatrice, she"ll cause my death."
"Keep the shawl well over your mouth," said Mrs. Gorman Stanley.
"Really, Mrs. Butler, it is extraordinary that no one comes to open the door."
"Hunt is faithless," proclaimed Mrs. Butler. "Maria, listen to me. Never as long as I live will I buy bread from Hunt again. I"ll eat Coffin"s bread in future."
"Oh, Maria, it"s so musty."
"Fiddle dumpling. Hunt is certainly faithless. Maria, do you think you could squeeze yourself through an open window?"
"I don"t, Martha," replied Miss Peters; "and, what"s more, I won"t. I have got my best brown silk on. Where am I to get another silk? Ah,"
with a sigh of infinite relief, "here is Hunt."
The baker, who was red in the face, and had a somewhat nervous manner, now appeared. He came by a sidewalk which led directly from the vestry.
"I beg your pardon, ladies," he apologized; "I overslept myself, and that"s a fact. Now the floors are open--find your places, ladies."
Hunt vanished, and Mrs. Butler led her party into the sacred edifice.
The light was still faint in the old church, and at first the good lady could not see very plainly. When she did, however, she beheld a sight which petrified her. As she and her party hurried up one aisle, she perceived Mrs. Bell and her party rushing up the other. There was not a moment to lose. It is disgraceful to have to relate it, but there was almost a scuffle in the church. In short, the two generals met opposite the front pews. There was a scramble for seats. The Beatricites and the Hart.i.tes got mixed up in the most confusing manner, and finally Mrs.
Butler and Mrs. Bell found themselves side by side and crushed very close together in a small s.p.a.ce.
Some awful hours followed. Mrs. Butler deliberately placed her back to Mrs. Bell. Mrs. Bell talked at Mrs. Butler in a loud whisper to a neighbor at the other side. Poor Miss Peters fanned herself violently.
Mrs. Morris"s breathing became so oppressed that it was audible; and in short, all these good ladies who had got up hours before their rightful time were as uncomfortable and cross as they well could be. But the longest time pa.s.ses at last. From six to seven went by, from seven to eight, from eight again to nine. The waiting was awful. By degrees, without quite knowing it, Mrs. Bell was forced to lean against Mrs.
Butler for support. By half-past nine she ventured to say to her neighbor:
"This waiting is intolerable."
"Vile," snapped Mrs. Butler, in response.
By ten o"clock the opposing generals were sharing the same footstool. By a quarter-past ten they were both nodding.
It was about that hour that Hunt in his position as verger once more appeared. The church doors were opened to the community at large, the bells began to ring out a merry and bridal peal, and the inhabitants of the town, the rich and poor alike, filed into the church.
Mrs. Butler was right. Long before eleven o"clock the building was packed. Mrs. Bell was also right. She communicated this fact to Mrs.
Butler, who nodded in response. Both ladies chuckled over their individual sagacity.
All the side aisles of the church began to fill. It was really an imposing spectacle. The weary inmates of the front pews felt they were reaping their rewards.
At a quarter to eleven some of the bridal guests appeared on the scene.
Those who had been especially invited by the Bertram family were magnificently attired, and occupied one or two seats reserved for them.
Then the bride"s-maids came. They stood in groups near the door, waiting to follow the bride to her place at the altar.
Mrs. Bell turned her flushed face; looked down the church, and nodded to her girls. She thought she had never seen anything so heavenly as the vision of her Matty in her bride"s-maid"s costume. Her heart swelled so with exultation, that she could not help confiding some of her feelings to Mrs. Butler.
"Pooh, you"re a goose!" nodded back this good woman. But a slow smile stole over her face as she said the words.
The moments flew on. The organist took his place at the organ, the choir boys filed into their places.
At the end of the church the bride"s-maids looked nervously around. Had any one listened very attentively they might have heard Matty Bell"s t.i.tter.
A thrill went through the waiting crowds. The bridegroom had appeared; he was accompanied by a strange youth, a young officer from his regiment. He walked slowly up the church, and took his place before the altar.
Bertram looked so handsome at this moment, so pale, so dignified, that every woman in the church fell in love with him. Miss Peters sighed audibly, and even shed a tear for the memory of that Sam, who had never proposed for her, but had been attentive, and had died thirty years ago.
Matty Bell felt quite a little tumult in her heart. No, no, whatever her mother might say her Bayard was not like Beatrice"s Bayard. She did not even want to look at her Gusty this moment.
Bertram stood before the altar and waited.
_The bride!_
There was a little buzz through the church. All the occupants of the pews rose; all heads were turned towards the door. In the excitement of the moment the Beatricites clasped the Hart.i.tes by the hands, Mrs.
Bell"s fat fingers rested on Mrs. Butler"s shoulder.
The bride! She had come. Beatrice would marry Loftus Bertram. The Beatricites would conquer. Slander would die.
No, no. What was the matter? What was wrong? Was anything wrong?
A girl dressed in shimmering bridal clothes was walking up the church.
A very slender and very pale girl. She was leaning on Mr. Ingram"s arm; she was beautiful. There was an expression on her face which melted hearts, and made eyes brim over with tears. A bride was coming up the church--not Beatrice Meadowsweet--not the girl who was beloved by all the town.
Close behind the bride followed the princ.i.p.al bride"s-maid. She was in a plain dress of white. Round her head she wore a wreath of white lilies, and in her hand she carried a bouquet of white flowers.
The other bride"s-maids wore green silk sashes, and green with the marguerites which trimmed their broad hats.
"May G.o.d have mercy on us!" exclaimed Mrs. Butler.
She made this remark aloud; it was distinctly heard, and Beatrice, as she pa.s.sed the good lady, turned and gave her a swift bright smile.
The bride joined the bridegroom before the altar, and the bishop, who was to perform the ceremony, began the marriage service:
"I, Loftus, take thee, Josephine--"
When these words were uttered Mrs. Bell turned and faced Mrs. Butler.
"Whose cause has won?" she murmured, "who was right?"
"Never you say a word against that blessed girl, Beatrice Meadowsweet,"