Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/245

"'Not I, sir! It only came into my head a moment ago, and I always like to be second to you in Church matters. You could have knocked me down with a sparrer’s feather when I thought o’t, sir; I asaure ’ee you could !’

Well, the pa’son jumped up from his breakfast, and together they went off to the church.

“It is not at all likely that they are there now,’ says Mr. Toogood, as they went; ‘and indeed I hope they are not. They be pretty sure to have ’scaped and gone home.’

“However, they opened the church-hatch, entered the church- yard, and, locking up at the tower, there they seed a little small white face at the belfry winder, aud a little amall hand waving. “I'was the bride.

“'God my life, clerk,’ says Mr, Toogood, ‘I don’t know how to face em!’ And he sank down upon a tombstone, ‘How I wish I hadn't been so cussed particular!'

“'Yes—'twas a pity we didn’t finish it when we'd begun,’ the clerk said, ‘Still, since the feelings of your holy priestoraft wouldn’t let ye, the couple must put up with it.’

“'True, clerk, true! Does she look as if anything premature had took place ?

“I can’t see her no lower down than her armpits, sir.’

"'Well—how do her face look ?’

"'It do look mighty white!’

“'Well, we must know the worat! Dear me, how the small of my back do ache from that ride yesterday!... But to more godiy business,’

“They went on inte the church, and unlocked the tower stairs, and immediately poor Jane and Andrey busted out like starved mice from a cupboard, Andrey