The "treasure" was
the only person she felt she could bear to have about her. Half an
hour before it was time to start for church her mother looked her
up again. She had grown still paler, if possible, during the
interval, and also more nervous and irritable. She threatened to
go to bed and stop there if she was not left quite alone. She
almost turned her mother out of the room, locking the door behind
her. Mrs. Hodskiss had never known her daughter to be like this
before.
The others went on, leaving her to follow in the last carriage with
her father. The contractor, forewarned, spoke little to her. Only
once he had occasion to ask her a question, and then she answered
in a strained, unnatural voice. She appeared, so far as could be
seen under her heavy veil, to be crying.
"Well, this is going to be a damned cheerful wedding," said Mr.
Hodskiss, and lapsed into sulkiness.
The wedding was not so quiet as had been anticipated. The village
had got scent of it, and had spread itself upon the event, while
half the house party from G- Hall had insisted on driving over to
take part in the proceedings.
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