登陆注册
15423100000126

第126章

The wedding was over so quickly that she scarcely realised it.There was the stuffy little church, very empty and dusty, with brass plates on the wall.She could hear, in the street, rumblings of carts and the rattle of wheels; somewhere a barrel-organ played.The clergyman was a little man who smiled upon her kindly.When Paul put the ring on her finger she started as though for a moment she awoke from a dream.She was glad that he looked so clean and tidy.Grace was wearing too grand a hat with black feathers.In the vestry Paul kissed her, and then they walked down the aisle together.She saw Katherine and Millie and Henry.Her fingers caught tightly about Paul's stout arm, but she would have been more at home she thought with Uncle Mathew just then.

It was a nice bright spring day, although the wind blew the dust about.They had a meal in Katherine's house and some one made a speech, and Maggie drank some champagne.She hoped she looked nice in her grey silk dress, and then caught sight of herself in a glass and thought she was as ever a fright.

"My little wild thing--mine now," whispered Paul.She thought that rather silly; she was not a wild thing, but simply Maggie Cardinal.

Oh, no! Maggie Trenchard...She did not feel Maggie Trenchard at all and she did not suppose that she ever would.

They were to have a fortnight alone at Skeaton before Grace came.

Maggie was glad of that.Paul was really nicer when Grace was not there.

They were all very kind to her.They had given her good presents--Millie some silver brushes, Henry some books, Philip a fan, and Katherine a most beautiful dressing-bag.Maggie had never had such things before.But she could have wished for something from her own people.She had written to Uncle Mathew but had not heard from him.

At the very last moment, on the morning of the wedding day, a present came from the aunts--an old box for handkerchiefs.The cover was inlaid with sea-shells and there was a little looking-glass inside.

Very soon it was all over and then to her own intense surprise she was alone in the train with Paul.What had she expected? She did not know--but somehow not this.

They were in a first-class carriage.Paul was doing the thing nobly.

He sat close to her, his broad knee against her dress.How broad his knee was, a great expanse of black shining cloth.He took her hand and rested it on the expanse, and, at the touch of the stuff and the throb of the warm flesh beneath it, she shivered a little and would wish to have drawn her hand away.He seemed so much larger than she had expected; from his knee to his high shining white collar was an immense distance and midway there was a thick gold watch-chain rising and falling as he breathed.He smelt very faintly of tooth-powder.

But on the whole she was comfortable; only the thin gold ring round her finger felt strange.Deep in a little pocket inside her blouse was the ring with the three little pearls.

"I do hope, Maggie darling," he said, "you don't think it strange our not going somewhere else for our honeymoon.My lads will be expecting me back--I was kept longer in London than I should have been--by you, you little witch.My witch now--"He put his arm round her waist and urged her head towards his coat.

But her hat, her beautiful hat that had cost so much more than she had ever spent on a hat before, was in the way.It struck into his chin.They were both uncomfortable and then, thank heaven, the train slowed down; they were at a station and some one got into their carriage, a stout man, all newspaper and creases to his trousers.

That, in the circumstances, was a great relief and soon Maggie dozed, seeing the telegraph wires and the trees like waving hands through a mist of sleep.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 美食萌宠

    美食萌宠

    美食萌宠!!!(本故事纯属虚构,如有雷同,纯属巧合)
  • 一生知己是梅花

    一生知己是梅花

    本书将从楹联(即对联)这一特殊的角度,讲述湘军水师大佬、晚清主战名将、咸丰同治年间与曾国藩、左宗棠、胡林翼并称为“曾左彭胡”的“四大中兴名臣”之彭玉麟的故事。作品将从楹联这一角度,以湘军与太平军的战争为背景,讲述晚清的军政风云。作品参阅了大量史料,创作态度严谨,拒绝戏说。
  • 商女也疯狂

    商女也疯狂

    重生于一个架空的时代,成为商家庶女,本以为长大随便嫁个人结婚生子就行,谁想到,还要为渡劫修行……修行就修行吧,还修出来个跟屁虫……跟就跟吧,没想到这家伙到处惹麻烦,惹出来个破落的舅舅,只好重操就业,当起白领……当古代白领一不小心当成了商人……好好的当个商人吧,一不小心出名了……出名就出名吧,还引来了美男一箩筐……一个正好,两个不少,多了受不了……这个世界太疯狂,疯狂疯狂都疯狂……详情请看《商女也疯狂》
  • 冷艳成狂

    冷艳成狂

    或许我只为复仇而生,仙界中人,你们残杀我父亲,设计让我实力全失,更杀害我心爱女子,不可饶恕。
  • 星空的低语

    星空的低语

    在银河系的第二旋臂上的西边星区上,名为人类的同族战争已经开始了第三百四十三个地球年。主宰南十字旋臂的联邦把居住在南十字旋臂西方星区的人类定义为叛军时,双方从争夺正义慢慢走向报复刻骨的仇恨,当同族的血脉之情都无法阻挡这份仇恨的时候,战争走向了不可控制的边缘。而我们的故事就在几百光年外的破碎星路上重新开始了。
  • 天使流浪猫

    天使流浪猫

    她是一个很活泼开朗的女生,某天,她遇见了他,展开了死缠烂打的追求。他是一个高贵冷艳的男生,对于追求上门的女生,他当然是傲娇的转头不理会的呀!可是、在她死缠烂打下,他竟然慢慢习惯她靠近他五米之内!突然他发现,她不经常出现在他面前了,不知怎么了,没有她的生活他竟感觉如此苍白无力!他第一次约她出来,她有着淡淡的诧异,也不过是一瞬间而已。“找我,有事吗?”她淡淡的问。听着她淡淡的语气,他竟感觉如此心痛!“最近怎么都没有找,我?”他不知道怎么开口,只能这样问。“我放弃了、”是啊!她真的放弃了,她已经看开了,无论她怎么样死缠烂打,他是不会喜欢上她的,所以,她放弃了。“你……”他想说话,她却已经转身离开
  • 呐流年你好

    呐流年你好

    时光不老,我们不散。青春正好,我们还在。《呐流年你好》属于青春的三个故事。(一句话文案)『经年里的枫叶』我把我的整个青春都给你。『呐流年你好』世界以痛吻我,我要报之以歌。『竹马戏青梅』青梅枯萎,竹马老去,从此我爱的人都像你。<半虐>
  • 降生mc的世界

    降生mc的世界

    主宰:统治着所有种族的王者,拥有无尽的魔力,无尽的权利,无尽的力量,但是他却游手好闲,老是去人间,不管理神界,这一次他来到了一个他都不认识的大陆,方块的世界。