y brought her tea, and endeavoured to induce her to eat and drink.
She would take the tea, she said, if they would promise to send to
put the people off. Mrs. Carbuncle so far gave way as to undertake to
do so, if she would name the next day or the day following for the
wedding. But on hearing this she arose almost in a majesty of wrath.
Neither on this day, or on the next, or on any following day, would
she yield herself to the wretch whom they had endeavoured to force
upon her. "She must do it, you know," said Mrs. Carbuncle, turning to
Lizzie. "You'll see if I must," said Lucinda, sitting square at the
table, with her eyes firmly fixed upon the book.

Then came up the servant to say that the four bridesmaids were
all assembled in the drawing-room. When she heard this, even Mrs.
Carbuncle gave way, and threw herself upon the bed and wept. "Oh,
Lady Eustace, what are we to do? Lucinda, you have destroyed me. You
have destroyed me altogether, after all that I have done for you."

"And what has been done to me, do you think?" said Lucinda.

Something must be settled. All the servants in the house by this time
knew that there would be no wedding, and no doubt some tidings as to
the misadventure of the day had already reached the four ladies in
the drawing-room. "What am I to do?" said Mrs. Carbuncle, starting up
from the bed.

"I really think you had better send to Mr. Emilius," said
Lizzie;--"and to Lord George."

"What am I to say? Who is there to go? Oh,--I wish that somebody
would kill me this minute! Lady Eustace, would you mind going down
and telling those ladies to go away?"

"And had I not better send Richard to the church?"

"Oh yes;--send anybody everywhere. I don't know what to do. Oh,
Lucinda, this is the unkindest and the wickedest, and the most
horrible thing that anybody ever did! I shall never, never be able
to hold up my head again." Mrs. Carbuncle was completely prostrate,
but Lucinda sat square at the table, firm as a rock, saying nothing,
making no excuse for herself, with her eyes fixed upon the Bible.

Lady Eustace carried her message to the astonished and indignant
bridesmaids, and succeeded in sending them back to their respective
homes. Richard, glorious in new livery, forgetting that his flowers
were still on his breast,--ready dressed to attend the bride's
carriage,--went with his sad message, first to the church and then
to the banqueting-hall in Albemarle Street.

"Not any wedding?"