Jilted! Or, My Uncle's Scheme, Volume 3Russell, William Clark
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Jilted! Or, My Uncle's Scheme, Volume 3
Russell, William Clark
English fiction -- 19th century
The following extract is from the _Updown Mercury_ of ----, 185--. I
subjoin it because the particulars it gives are expressed in language
which, whether we consider the beauty of its epithets, the elegance
of its construction, the ease of its periods, or the harmony of its
sentences, is equally provocative of lasting admiration, and is so
superior to anything I could write, that it would be injurious to the
reputation of this book to omit it.
“Fashionable Marriage,--On Thursday last our delightfully-situated town
was thrown into a state of unusual excitement by the solemnisation of
the marriage of Charles Hargrave, Esq., son of Major Hargrave, and
nephew of our respected fellow-townsman, Thomas Hargrave, Esq., to
Theresa, only child of Richard Hargrave, Esq., of Thistlewood. The
whole of the population turned out to celebrate the joyous occasion.
The noble and ancient gateway in High Street was elegantly draped
with flags, and a triumphal arch of great beauty was erected at the
bottom of Grove End Lane. The church was densely packed, and an immense
concourse of people assembled around the doors to witness the bridal
party leave the sacred edifice. The bride wore a magnificent robe of
white satin, and looked, to quote the words of a celebrated bard,
‘Beautiful exceedingly.’
The dresses of the bridesmaids were beyond praise, and elicited murmurs
of admiration. The service was read impressively by the rector,
assisted by the Reverend John Cattle, M.A.: Mr. Abrahams presided at
the organ. The bridal party left the church and were driven to Grove
End, where a recherché breakfast awaited the happy guests. The usual
toasts were eloquently proposed and eloquently responded to. We must
not forget to say that the breakfast involved a double celebration;
the other happy pair being Theodore Curling, Esq., of London, and
Constance, the only child of Thomas Hargrave, Esq. Much amusement was
created by the very droll speech delivered by Mr. Richard Hargrave in
proposing the health of Mr. and Mrs. Curling; and hearty and cordial
was the applause that greeted the few but graceful words with which Mr.
Curling acknowledged the honour that was done him and his fair bride.
“Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hargrave left Grove End for the railway station
at Updown at one o’clock, en route for the south of France, where we
believe it is their intention to pass the honeymoon. Our best wishes
follow them into their blissful though temporary retirement; nor can we
close this inadequate notice of the auspicious event, without tendering
our respectful congratulations to the parents of the young people whom
the marriage cements with new and indissoluble domestic ties.”
Here I lay down my pen, having brought as much of the story of my life
as I meant to relate, to an end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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