They took as early a train as possible from West Malling, in order to escape observation, and before noon they were all comfortably settled in London, Brownie and her two companions having an elegant suite of rooms at the Langham Hotel, in Portland Place, the most fashionable quarter of the city, while Adrian returned to his own private apartments in St. James Street. Before sundown he had procured the special license, and believed himself the happiest man alive, the only cloud being the disapproval of his grandfather, and this, he trusted, time would overcome. Meantime, Brownie, in company with Milly, visited a fashionable ladies’ furnishing house, and procured the most suitable outfit it was possible to procure at so short a notice, and gave orders for several other articles of apparel which she would need in the future. The next morning a quiet little wedding party alighted at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, at eleven o’clock, and, leading his beautiful betrothed proudly up the grand aisle, Adrian Dredmond stopped before the gray-haired rector, and the twain were made one. It was a very sweet but solemn face which looked up into Adrian’s when he paused a moment in the vestibule and whispered, tenderly: “God bless my own wife!” But her eyes, as he pressed that first kiss upon her lips, were full of happiness and trust, and he knew that he had it in his power to make her life very bright. It was well for him, however, that he had not betrayed to her the fact of his grandfather’s disapproval, nor what he was likely to forfeit by his alliance with her, else all the pride of a royal race would have risen within her, and that fair April day would not have seen Brownie Douglas, Adrian Dredmond’s bride! CHAPTER XXXV LADY DUNFORTH’S VISIT Adrian Dredmond, as he had stated to his grandfather when he so wrathfully opposed his marrying, was not quite a beggar; indeed, he was entirely independent of Lord Dunforth as regarded pecuniary matters. His mother’s settlement had been the generous sum of twenty thousand pounds, which, of course, after her death became his. His father also had accumulated quite a handsome property, so that, if he never received a pound from Dunforth’s coffers, he was able to surround his bride with every luxury, while nothing could prevent him from inheriting the title and landed property upon the old gentleman’s decease, since they were entailed. The day after his marriage Adrian read in the _Times_ that his lordship was in town for a few days, and he resolved to visit him, and acquaint him with the step which he had taken, and have the worst over with at once. He was received kindly, yet with some coolness. “Have you gotten over your folly, my son?” the old man asked, regarding the bright, handsome face keenly. “No, my lord; instead, I came to tell you that I have only gotten deeper into it,” was the grave yet quiet reply.