ubt blend well by candlelight.

"Come, Maude. There's no time to be lost."

"Are the men gone?"

"Yes, they are gone; no thanks to Hartledon, though. He sat mooning on,
never giving them the least hint to depart. Priddon told me so. I'll tell
you what it is, Maude, you'll have to shake your husband out of no end of
ridiculous habits."

"It is growing dark," exclaimed Maude, as she stepped into the corridor.

"Dark! of course it's dark," was the irascible answer; "and they have had
to light up the chapel, or Priddon couldn't have seen to read his book.
And all through those confounded fox-hunters!"

Lord Hartledon was not in the drawing-room, where Lady Kirton had left
him only a minute before; and she looked round sharply.

"Has he gone on to the chapel?" she asked of the young clergyman.

"No, I think not," replied Mr. Priddon, who was already in his
canonicals. "Hedges came in and said something to him, and they went out
together."

A minute or two of impatience--she was in no mood to wait long--and then
she rang the bell. It should be remarked that the old lady, either from
excitement or some apprehension of failure, was shaking and jumping as if
she had St. Vitus's dance. Hedges came in.

"Where's your master?" she tartly asked.

"With Mr. Carr, my lady."

"With Mr.--What did you say?"

"My lord is with Mr. Carr. He has just arrived."

A moment given to startled consternation and then the fury broke forth.
The young parson had never had the pleasure of seeing one of these
war-dances before, and backed against the wall in his starched surplice.

"What brings him here? How dare he come uninvited?"

"I heard him say, my lady, that finding he had a Sunday to spare, he
thought he would come and pass it at Hartledon," said the well-trained
Hedges.

Ere the words had left his lips Lord Hartledon and Mr. Carr were present;
the latter in a state of utter amazement and in his travelling dress,
having only removed his overcoat.

"You'll be my groomsman, Carr," said Hartledon. "We have no adherents;
this is a strictly private affair."

"Did you send for Mr. Carr?" whispered the countess-dowager, looking
white through her rouge.

"No; his coming has taken me by surprise," replied Hartledon, with a
nervousness he could not wholly conceal.

They passed rapidly through the passages, marshalled by Hedges. Lord
Hartledon led his bride, the countess-dowager walked with the clergyman,
and Mr. Carr brought up