John Harewood made haste to telegraph the tidings to Vale Leston and to Jonesville, and came home exultant, having dispelled the cloud that had brooded over the family for nearly a year, and given them freely to enjoy the wedding. Would they do so the more or the less for Emilia’s announcement that she had a letter from Mr. Ferdinand Brown, eldest son of Sir Ferdinand’s partner, offering her marriage, and that she had accepted him? He was, of course, a rich man, but oh! how Emily, Annie, and Gerald had been wont to make fun of him, and his parents. “But, my dear Nan,” said she, “I shall be able to do much more good in that way.” “Oh!” “And really I cannot go back to those intolerable backgammon evenings at Kensington Palace Gardens.” CHAPTER XXXIII. -- A MISSIONARY WEDDING Till the smooth temper of my age might be Like the high leaves upon the holly tree.--SOUTHEY. The neighbourhood said that nothing was ever done at Vale Leston according to the conventionalities, and the Devereux wedding was an instance. Lancelot had brought word that Bishop Norman May had actually arrived from New Zealand for a half-year’s visit, bringing with him the younger missionary Leonard Ward, and that Dr. May’s happiness was unspeakable. “A renewed youth, if he needed to have it renewed.” Clement and William Harewood went over to see them, and returned greatly impressed, and resolved on convoking the neighbourhood to be stirred in the cause of the Pacific islands. At the same time, one of the many letters from Lady Rotherwood about arrangements ended with--“My husband hopes you will be able to arrange for us to be introduced to your connections of the May family, the Bishop, Mr. Ward, and the good old doctor of whom we have heard so much.” “We must invite them all to the wedding,” said Mrs. Harewood, who, as still inhabiting the Priory, would be the hostess. “Certainly,” returned William Harewood, “but I don’t think Mr. Ward would come. He looks like an ancient hermit.” “The best way,” said Mrs. Grinstead, “would be to finish up the wedding-day with a missionary garden-party.” “Geraldine!” said Lady Vanderkist from her sofa, in feeble accents of dismay; but Mrs. William Harewood hardly heard, and did not notice. “It would be the most admirable plan. It would give people something to do, and make a reason for having ever so many more.” “Baits cleverly disposed,” said William. “The S.P.G. to attract Ward, Ward to attract the Marquis, and the Marquis to attract the herd.” “Everybody throngs to the extremest outskirts of a wedding,” said Geraldine. “They may have the presents on view in the long room,” said Wilmet. “Provided they don’t have the list of them printed,” said Geraldine. “Lance won’t put them into the ‘Pursuivant’; it is disgusting!” “So I have always thought,” said Robina; “but you hardly make allowances for the old ladies who love to spell them out.”