Breeding is not always proof against strong emotion. The countess snatched the bride's veil from her face, and Mary Susannah Ruth Sewell stood before her, flushed and trembling, but looking none the less pretty because of that. At this point the crowd came in useful. "I am sure your ladyship does not wish a scene," said Mary, speaking low. "The thing is done." "The thing can be undone, and will be," retorted the countess in the same tone. "You, you--" "My wife, don't forget that, mother," said Lord C--- coming between them, and slipping Mary's hand on to his arm. "We are both sorry to have had to go about the thing in this roundabout way, but we wanted to avoid a fuss. I think we had better be getting away. I'm afraid Mr. Hodskiss is going to be noisy." * * * * * The doctor poured himself out a glass of claret, and drank it off. His throat must have been dry. "And what became of Clementina?" I asked. "Did the naval lieutenant, while the others were at church, dash up in a post-chaise and carry her off?" "That's what ought to have happened, for the whole thing to be in keeping," agreed the doctor. "I believe as a matter of fact she did marry him eventually, but not till some years later, after the contractor had died." "And did Mr. Hodskiss make a noise in the vestry?" I persisted. The doctor never will finish a story. "I can't say for certain," answered my host, "I only saw the gentleman once. That was at a shareholders' meeting. I should incline to the opinion that he did." "I suppose the bride and bridegroom slipped out as quietly as possible and drove straight off," I suggested. "That would have been the sensible thing for them to do," agreed the doctor. "But how did she manage about her travelling frock?" I continued. "She could hardly have gone back to her Aunt Jane's and changed her things." The doctor has no mind for minutiae. "I cannot tell you about all that," he replied. "I think I mentioned that Mary was a practical girl. Possibly she had thought of these details." "And did the countess take the matter quietly?" I asked. I like a tidy story, where everybody is put into his or her proper place at the end. Your modern romance leaves half his characters lying about just anyhow. "That also I cannot tell you for certain," answered the doctor, "but I give her credit for so much sense. Lord C--- was of age, and with Mary at his elbow, quite knew his own mind. I believe they travelled for two or three years. The first time I myself set eyes on the countess (_nee_ Mary Sewell) was just after the late earl's death. I thought she looked a countess, every inch of her, but then I had not heard the story. I mistook the dowager for the housekeeper." BLASE BILLY It was towards the end of August. He and I appeared to be the only two men left to the Club. He was sitting by an open window, the _Times_ lying on the floor beside him. I drew my chair a little closer and remarked:--"Good morning."