If the real truth were known and told about people and things, what a different appearance they would make! The gloss of the world is like the apocryphal mantle of charity, covering a multitude of defects and sins. We were extremely happy, as might be supposed, and everything wore a roseate hue as is usual in such cases, so there is no need of going into any ecstasies of description. I recall what a great English writer has said, “Of all actions of a man’s life his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all our life ’tis most meddled with by other people.” So I will act upon his suggestion, be wise for once, and not give people a chance to meddle with what does not concern them. We had passed the giddy stage of life and had not reached that, when it could be said of either of us, “There is no such fool as an old fool.” Of course we had to visit the parents and they treated me so kindly that I was tempted to forget, as I had forgiven them, their former outburst of anger towards me. What rather modified my feelings was the remark of the mother to her daughter in the privacy of her bed chamber, that if she had known Mr. Japhet was such a fine man, a real gentleman, indeed, she would never have objected to him. This my wife related to me with much satisfaction, as it was a compliment to her former good judgment, as well as to myself. They accepted the inevitable with such good grace and kindness that I almost fell in love with my mother-in-law, and that is saying all that is necessary.