of opinion that the
marriage should be celebrated in Suffolk,--the feast being spread at
Sheep's Acre farm, if Dan Ruggles could be talked into giving it,--and
if not, at his own house. When both the ladies explained to him that
this last proposition was not in strict accordance with the habits of
the fashionable world, John expressed an opinion that, under the
peculiar circumstances of his marriage, the ordinary laws of the world
might be suspended. 'It ain't jist like other folks, after all as
we've been through,' said,--he meaning probably to imply that having
had to fight for his wife, he was entitled to give a breakfast on the
occasion if he pleased. But whether the banquet was to be given by the
bride's grandfather or by himself he was determined that there should
be a banquet, and that he would bid the guests. He invited both Mrs
Pipkin and Mrs Hurtle, and at last succeeded in inducing Mrs Hurtle to
promise that she would bring Mrs Pipkin down to Bungay, for the
occasion.

Then it was necessary to fix the day, and for this purpose it was of
course essential that Ruby should be consulted. During the discussion
as to the feast and the bridegroom's entreaties that the two ladies
would be present, she had taken no part in the matter in hand. She
was brought up to be kissed, and having been duly kissed she retired
again among the children, having only expressed one wish of her own,--
namely, that Joe Mixet might not have anything to do with the affair.
But the day could not be fixed without her, and she was summoned.
Crumb had been absurdly impatient, proposing next Tuesday,--making his
proposition on a Friday. They could cook enough meat for all Bungay to
eat by Tuesday, and he was aware of no other cause for delay. 'That's
out of the question,' Ruby had said decisively, and as the two elder
ladies had supported her Mr Crumb yielded with a good grace. He did
not himself appreciate the reasons given because, as he remarked,
gowns can be bought ready made at any shop. But Mrs Pipkin told him
with a laugh that he didn't know anything about it, and when the 14th
of August was named he only scratched his head and, muttering
something about Thetford fair, agreed that he would, yet once again,
allow love to take precedence of business. If Tuesday would have
suited the ladies as well he thought that he might have managed to
combine the marriage and the fair, but when Mrs Pipkin told him that
he must not interfere any furthe