trict orders not to get up till he was called, Robin
personally conducted a select party of those interested--Dolly, Dilly,
another bridesmaid, and myself--to the church, where he showed us the
exact positions of our entrances and exits; and then proceeded, with the
assistance of Dolly, to plant hassocks about the chancel in such a
manner as to leave us no doubts as to the whereabouts of our moorings
(or "stances," as he called them) at the actual ceremony.

The party was reinforced at this point by the arrival of no less a
person than the bridegroom, who, having risen from his slumbers in
defiance of Robin's injunctions, was now proceeding to infringe the laws
of propriety by coming in search of his beloved four hours before he was
entitled to do so.

However, as Dilly rather pessimistically pointed out, it was probably
the last time she would ever get a kind word out of him, so we gave them
ten minutes together in the porch, while Robin interviewed vergers and
Dolly intimidated perspiring persons with red carpets and evergreens.

On our return home Dilly was snatched away by a cloud of attendant
sprites, and we saw her no more until the time came for me to drive her
to the church. We heard of her, though; for as we sat at luncheon,
plying the bridegroom (who had collapsed after the complete and
inevitable fashion of his kind about twelve o'clock) with raw brandy, a
message came down from the upper regions, to the effect that Miss Dilly
would take a couple of veal cutlets and a glass of Burgundy, as she
wasn't going to be a pale bride if she could help it!

However, this half-hysterical gaiety came to an end in the face of
reality, and in the carriage on the way to church poor Dilly wept
unrestrainedly on my shoulder. I mopped her up to the best of my
ability, but she was still sobbing when we reached the church door, to
find the six bridesmaids, together with Phillis (inordinately proud of
her office of train-bearer), preening themselves in the porch.

It had been arranged that the organ should break into "The March of the
Priests," from 'Athalie'--Dicky's petition in favour of an
ecclesiastical rendering of "The Eton Boating Song" had been thrown out
with ignominy--as the bridal procession entered the nave. Unfortunately
the organ-loft was out of sight of the west door, by which we were to
enter, and the conveyance of the starting-signal to the proper quarter
at exactly the right moment was a matter of some diffi