r a
minute or two--and says he's going to the church to see if things be well
forward.'

Baptista arose, looked out of the window, and took the easy course. When
she emerged from the regions above she was arrayed in her new silk frock
and best stockings, wearing a linen jacket over the former for
breakfasting, and her common slippers over the latter, not to spoil the
new ones on the rough precincts of the dwelling.

It is unnecessary to dwell at any great length on this part of the
morning's proceedings. She revealed nothing; and married Heddegan, as
she had given her word to do, on that appointed August day.

CHAPTER V

Mr. Heddegan forgave the coldness of his bride's manner during and after
the wedding ceremony, full well aware that there had been considerable
reluctance on her part to acquiesce in this neighbourly arrangement, and,
as a philosopher of long standing, holding that whatever Baptista's
attitude now, the conditions would probably be much the same six months
hence as those which ruled among other married couples.

An absolutely unexpected shock was given to Baptista's listless mind
about an hour after the wedding service. They had nearly finished the
mid-day dinner when the now husband said to her father, 'We think of
starting about two. And the breeze being so fair we shall bring up
inside Pen-zephyr new pier about six at least.'

'What--are we going to Pen-zephyr?' said Baptista. 'I don't know
anything of it.'

'Didn't you tell her?' asked her father of Heddegan.

It transpired that, owing to the delay in her arrival, this proposal too,
among other things, had in the hurry not been mentioned to her, except
some time ago as a general suggestion that they would go somewhere.
Heddegan had imagined that any trip would be pleasant, and one to the
mainland the pleasantest of all.

She looked so distressed at the announcement that her husband willingly
offered to give it up, though he had not had a holiday off the island for
a whole year. Then she pondered on the inconvenience of staying at
Giant's Town, where all the inhabitants were bonded, by the circumstances
of their situation, into a sort of family party, which permitted and
encouraged on such occasions as these oral criticism that was apt to
disturb the equanimity of newly married girls, and would especially worry
Baptista in her strange situation. Hence, unexpectedly, she agreed not
to disorganize her husband's plans for the wedd