“Hang thou there upon the tomb, praising her when I am dumb,” he added, placing the scroll on the family monument of Leonato. * * * * * The following morning a large company again assembled in Leonato’s house, for another wedding was to take place. This time all the ladies were veiled, and it was not until the words were spoken in which Claudio took an unknown maiden to be his wife that the bride threw back her veil and revealed the well-loved face of Hero. Benedick had already announced to the Friar that he intended to marry the lady Beatrice, and Leonato had given his willing approval. Benedick therefore approached the group of still masked figures to find his own lady, and called Beatrice by name. “What is your will?” she inquired, taking off her mask. “Do not you love me?” asked Benedick. “Why, no--no more than reason,” said Beatrice provokingly. “Why, then, your uncle and the Prince and Claudio have been deceived; they swore you did.” Beatrice laughed. “Do not you love me?” she asked in her turn. “Troth, no; no more than reason,” said Benedick loftily. “Why, then, my cousin, Margaret and Ursula are much deceived, for they swore you did.” “They swore you were almost ill for me,” declared Benedick. “They swore that you were wellnigh dead for me,” retorted Beatrice. “’Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?” “No, truly, but in friendly recompense,” said Beatrice, with airy indifference. “Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman,” said Leonato. “And I’ll be sworn that he loves her,” said Claudio. “Come, I will have thee,” said Benedick. “But by this light I take thee for pity.” “I would not deny you,” said Beatrice, “but by this good day I yield upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption.” “Peace, I will stop your mouth!” said Benedick; and he silenced her merry chatter with a loving kiss. “Ha, ha!” laughed Don Pedro, with shy malice. “How dost thou, _Benedick the married man_?” But the lovers’ happiness was proof against any raillery that could be lavished on them, and no lighter hearts led off the revelry that wedding-day than those of Beatrice and Benedick. A Midsummer-Night’s Dream [Illustration] Helena and Hermia Theseus, Duke of Athens, was to wed Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, and the whole city was given up to merriment in honour of the occasion. Theseus had won his bride by the sword, but he was to wed her in another fashion--with pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. Four days had yet to elapse before the marriage, and during that time the citizens of Athens were to busy themselves with preparations for the great event.