Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/237

“It all arose, you must know, from Andrey being fond of a drop of drink at that time—-though he’s a sober enough man now by all account, so much the better for him, Jane, his bride, you see, was somewhat older than Andrey; how much older I don’t pretend to say; she was not one of our parish, and the register alone may be able to tell that. But, at any rate, her being a little ahead of her young man in mortal years, coupled with other bodily circumstances—”

(Ah, poor thing !” sighed the women.)

“—made her very anxious to get the thing done before he changed his mind; and ‘twas with a joyful countenance (they say) that she, with Andrey and his brother and sister-in-law, marched off to church one November morning as soon as 'twas day a’most, to be made one with Andrey for the rest of her life. He had left our place long before it was light, and the folks that were up all waved their lanterns at him, and flung up their hats as he went.

“The church of her parish was a mile and more from the houses, and, as it was a wonderful fine day for the time of year, the plan was that ag soon as they were matried they would make out a holiday by driving straight off to Port Bredy, to see the ships and the sea and the sojers, instead of coming back to a meal at the house of the distant relation she lived wi’, and moping about there all the afternoon.