t wait for no man: Time and Bonaparte. Come, sir; marry us,
and have done with it."

The mayor assented. He invited Josephine to stand before him. She
trembled and wept a little: Rose clung to her and wept, and the good
mayor married the parties off hand.

"Is that all?" asked the baroness; "it is terribly soon done."

"It is done effectively, madam," said the mayor, with a smile. "Permit
me to tell you that his Holiness the Pope cannot undo my work."

Picard grinned slyly, and whispered something into Raynal's ear.

"Oh! indeed," said Raynal aloud and carelessly. "Come, Madame Raynal, to
breakfast: follow us, the rest of you."

They paired, and followed the bride and bridegroom into the
breakfast-room.

The light words Picard whispered were five in number.

Now if the mayor had not snubbed Picard just before, he would have
uttered those jocose but true words aloud. There was no particular
reason why he should not. And if he had,--The threads of the web of
life, how subtle they are! The finest cotton of Manchester, the finer
meshes of the spider, seem three-inch cables by comparison with those
moral gossamers which vulgar eyes cannot see at all, the "somethings,
nothings," on which great fates have hung.

It was a cheerful breakfast, thanks to Raynal, who would be in high
spirits, and would not allow a word of regret from any one. Madame
Raynal sat by his side, looking up at him every now and then with
innocent admiration. A merry wedding breakfast.

But if men and women could see through the walls of houses!

Two doors off sat the wounded colonel alone, recruiting the small
remnant of his sore tried strength, that he might struggle on to
Beaurepaire, and lose in one moment years of separation, pain, prison,
anguish, martyrdom, in one great gush of joy without compare.

The wedding breakfast was ended. The time was drawing near to part.
There was a silence. It was broken by Madame Raynal. She asked Raynal
very timidly if he had reflected. "On what?" said he.

"About taking me to Egypt."

"No: I have not given it a thought since I said 'no.'"

"Yet permit me to say that it is my duty to be by your side, my
husband." And she colored at this word, being the first time she had
ever used it. Raynal was silent. She murmured on, "I would not be an
encumbrance to you, sir: I should not be useless. Gentlemen, I could add
more to his comfort than he gives me credit for."

Warm assent of the mayor and notary