family to do so just yet,
deeming it better for them to remain with his sister, and to enjoy
with her a period of rest and refreshment which could never be
theirs in the busy life of home.

A happy Christmas had thus been spent; and now it was the eve of
Gertrude's wedding day, which was the one following Christmas Day.
The Master Builder had spent the festival with his friends, and on
the morrow would accompany his daughter and her husband to their
home in the city, the Harmer family returning to their house at the
same time, and bringing Mary with them on a visit after all her
hospitality to them.

By nine o'clock the next morning, the quiet little wedding party
was approaching the church, when to their surprise they beheld a
fine coach, drawn by four horses, drawing up at the gate of the
churchyard; and before Dorcas had more than time to exclaim, "Why,
it is my Lady Scrope herself!" they saw that diminutive but
remarkable old dame alighting from it, and walking nimbly up the
path towards the porch.

"I never dreamed she would really come, albeit I did let her know
the day according to promise--or rather to her command," said her
handmaiden, hurrying after her as if by instinct. The little figure
in its sables and strangely-fashioned velvet bonnet turned at the
sound of the quick footfall; and there stood the old lady scanning
the whole party with her bead-like eyes, and giving little nods to
this one and the other in response to their respectful reverences.

"A pretty pair! a pretty pair!" was her comment upon the bridal
couple, who walked together, and who certainly looked very handsome
and happy. Reuben had regained strength and colour, though his face
was thinner and finer in outline than it had been before his
illness; and Gertrude had always been something of a beauty, and
had greatly improved in looks during these weeks of happiness.

"Well, well, well! I am always sorry for folks who are tying
burdens round their own necks; but some can do it with a better
grace than others.

"Now, child," and she turned to Gertrude, and rapped her cane upon
the ground, "don't make a fool of yourself or your husband! Don't
begin by thinking him the best man in the world; else he may turn
out all too soon to be the worst. Don't let him trample upon you.
Hold your own with him.

"Pooh! I might as well spare my words. Poor fools, they are all
alike at starting. They only learn to sing to another tune when
experience