Miss Overton

“ The wedding was a very pretty one, the beauty of the bride and bridesmaids—of course I am not supposed to speak of myself, whatever I may think—eclipsed that of their dresses; the bridegroom and his men were also sufficiently well-looking. I think I fared the worst in this respect, not but that Arthur, my groomsman, was as handsome as any, but his thoughts happened to be a good deal with Fanny of the sprained ankle, so that I found him only a dull companion. ”

“ I am still her chosen friend, and should be her first bridesmaid, only—only the lovers are both so poor that matrimony is at present out of the question. I, for my part, could have waited patiently for this forlorn hope of bridesmaidship, but that I have to combat somebody else’s impatience, for—it can no longer be kept a secret—before I had ever thought of such a thing, I was myself engaged to be married. I don’t know how it came to pass, but Henry is really a very nice fellow, and I could not well refuse him only because I had never yet been a bridesmaid. ”

“ To-morrow is my daughter’s wedding-day, and her cousin was to come to be one of her bridesmaids. Our coachman has not been with us long, has never seen the young lady, consequently he not unnaturally supposed you to be our expected guest. But poor Fanny Heath,” she said, turning to her daughters, “must have missed the train; there is, however, one later which stops at S——, the carriage must meet that, and after he has brought Fanny here, Thomas can drive this young lady to Myrtle Grove.” ”

“ My travelling dress was not at all suited for a début in a drawing-room on the eve of a wedding, as I remarked to the Miss Hortons, and I proposed they should leave me to remain in the bed-room, where a bright fire was burning, and which was furnished luxuriously, quite like a little drawing-room. ”

“ How I should like to remind those foolish men that beauty is but skin deep, and that Julia has an infinite number of imperishable virtues, which would ensure her husband happiness tenfold more than any of them deserve. ”

“ In reply to my question the elder lady informed me that I was indeed not at Myrtle Grove, but at Crofton Manor. In great embarrassment I then began my story, how I had left the train at S—— station, expecting to find grandmamma’s carriage waiting to convey me to her house—how I had seen a carriage, had at once concluded it to be hers—how the servant had offered no remonstrance, but had straightway transported myself and luggage, like an expected cargo, to the place where I now found myself. ”

“ I began.
“That she is not,” interrupted Mr. Horton. “I am her physician: I saw her this morning, and can set your mind at rest on that score. Besides, she deserves to lose you for a day, for not having sent her carriage in time to meet you.”
I made no more objections; indeed I was very glad at heart. The coachman, who was just about to proceed to the station a second time, had his drive countermanded. The groom was despatched to Myrtle Grove, and I gave myself up to enjoyment. ”

“ I said, “but I am not going to be married for several years yet. I am determined to be Barbara Hemming’s bridesmaid first.”
Whereat he laughed again shamefully, and protested he had no intention of waiting until Barbara’s betrothed should hear of something to his advantage.
“He has been a curate on 80l. a-year,” said Henry, “for the last ten years, always hoping for something better, and never getting it.”
I now proposed that Henry, who had more money than he knew what to do with, should buy him a living, representing it to come from some unknown friend and benefactor. ”