aid he, endeavouring to hide
his embarrassment by an assumption of careless gaiety. 'Esther, this is
Mr. Markham; my friend Markham, Mrs. Lawrence, late Miss Hargrave.'

I bowed to the bride, and vehemently wrung the bridegroom's hand.

'Why did you not tell me of this?' I said, reproachfully, pretending a
resentment I did not feel (for in truth I was almost wild with joy to
find myself so happily mistaken, and overflowing with affection to him
for this and for the base injustice I felt that I had done him in my
mind--he might have wronged me, but not to that extent; and as I had
hated him like a demon for the last forty hours, the reaction from such a
feeling was so great that I could pardon all offences for the moment--and
love him in spite of them too).

'I did tell you,' said he, with an air of guilty confusion; 'you received
my letter?'

'What letter?'

'The one announcing my intended marriage.'

'I never received the most distant hint of such an intention.'

'It must have crossed you on your way then--it should have reached you
yesterday morning--it was rather late, I acknowledge. But what brought
you here, then, if you received no information?'

It was now my turn to be confounded; but the young lady, who had been
busily patting the snow with her foot during our short sotto-voce
colloquy, very opportunely came to my assistance by pinching her
companion's arm and whispering a suggestion that his friend should be
invited to step into the carriage and go with them; it being scarcely
agreeable to stand there among so many gazers, and keeping their friends
waiting into the bargain.

'And so cold as it is too!' said he, glancing with dismay at her slight
drapery, and immediately handing her into the carriage. 'Markham, will
you come? We are going to Paris, but we can drop you anywhere between
this and Dover.'

'No, thank you. Good-by--I needn't wish you a pleasant journey; but I
shall expect a very handsome apology, some time, mind, and scores of
letters, before we meet again.'

He shook my hand, and hastened to take his place beside his lady. This
was no time or place for explanation or discourse: we had already stood
long enough to excite the wonder of the village sight-seers, and perhaps
the wrath of the attendant bridal party; though, of course, all this
passed in a much shorter time than I have taken to relate, or even than
you will take to read it. I stood beside the carriage, and, the window