And naught so blue by the breezes stirred
Joy in the branch and joy in the sky,
And naught between but the breezes high,
And naught so glad on the breezes heard
As the gay, gay note of the indigo bird.
—ETHELWYN WETHERALD.
Miss Arabella's wedding day was a perfect rose of June as it dawned over the hills and dales of Oro and waked the robins4 in Treasure Valley to ecstatic song. The date was two weeks later than that set for the elopement, for the bridegroom needed some time to recover from his injudicious attempt to cross the swamp and surprise his little bride by arriving a day earlier.
Then the doctor was in almost as bad a plight6, with a wrenched7 arm and a great gash8 in his forehead; and in any case, the wedding must needs wait until he could make a respectable appearance as best man. Mrs. Winters, too, declared she must have a few days to recover her breath and get used to the idea of Arabella getting married, not to speak of all the preparations for the grand wedding she had decreed they must have.
And besides, the village needed two weeks, at least, to settle down after the memorable9 night when they had almost lost their doctor. When the boys arrived with the terrible news that he had been decoyed into the Drowned Lands, every man in the community, and most of the women, too, headed by Susan Winters, set off to his rescue. They found their fears happily disappointed, however, and they carried him home in triumph, and with him the man he had saved at the risk of his own life. And the wonderful discovery that the stranger was Dr. Allen's oldest and dearest friend, and that he was coming, all unknown, to marry Arabella Winters—well! well! it was a caution if the foundations of the village didn't give way altogether, and everything and everybody go toppling over into Treasure Valley!
As if this were not excitement enough for a lifetime, right on top of all that night's adventures came another shock. When the population of Elmbrook returned, after the rescue of the doctor, Sawed-Off Wilmott rushed through the village, wild-eyed, with the astounding10 news that Ella Anne Long had disappeared with the ne'er-do-weel from Glenoro! Granny Long lifted her voice above the general family bewailment to declare that it was all Si's fault, for taking the spyglass with him when he went to hunt the doctor; for if she had had it, Ella Anne would never have got away without her knowledge—no, not even though it was black midnight!
So there was a runaway11 match from Elmbrook on the first of June, after all, even though little Miss Arabella was to be married in the proper fashion. She was thankful for all the excitement and the talk and the running to and fro, for they made it possible to keep her own proposed elopement a profound secret. That Arabella should be preparing, all unsuspected, for her wedding day was a surprise, of course, to every one, especially Susan; but deep secrecy12 in such affairs was the general rule, and caused no especial comment.
These two weeks before her marriage were magic days for the little lilac lady. She found herself in a new atmosphere. From being of no consequence at all to anybody, she had suddenly become the most important member of the family, and she almost lost a sense of her own identity when Susan consulted her as to the number of eggs to be put into the wedding cake.
Susan, indeed, was deeply impressed. For was not Arabella going to marry a rich man, and the doctor's bosom13 friend, at that? To be sure, she could not help wishing he wouldn't spend so much of his time with that queer old John McIntyre, but there was no denying his wealth, and the way he did spend money was a caution. On the whole, he was quite a wonderful match for Arabella, much better than he had been ten years ago, and almost all Mrs. Winters could have wished for Bella herself. So the wedding must be in keeping with his position, and the preparations for it were put forward on a grand scale.
And through all the bustle14 and activity Miss Arabella moved in a happy daze15, conscious of one thing only, that Martin had come back, and, under the love and appreciation16, growing more beautiful every day. The rose tints17 crept into her cheeks, and her eyes shone like the blue of the June skies. Elsie Cameron took advantage of Susan's relaxation18, and puffed19 out the little bride-elect's pretty hair, and decked her with ribbons and lace, until Martin declared she wasn't a day older than when he went away, and twice as pretty.
Quite irrespective of his wealth, Martin, himself, took the village by storm. The orphans21 adopted him as their very own, and moved over in a body to the doctor's house whenever he was staying there. The men in the mill stopped work the moment he appeared, and all the women in the place, from Susan Winters down, fell in love with him. Every eye watched him admiringly as he moved about, here and there, during those two weeks. Folks said you could hardly tell whether he thought most of Arabella or the doctor or old John McIntyre. Certainly he spent much of his time with the dark watchman, and it was beautiful to see the light his presence brought to John McIntyre's deep eyes. But he did not by any means neglect Arabella. Two or three times a day he would come rollicking up from the doctor's house, loudly chanting the praises of the "brave Canajen byes" who had met a watery22 grave; would swing open Miss Arabella's little gate with a force that nearly wrenched it from its hinges, and after teasing Polly into saying all the naughty things her mistress had hoped she had forgotten, he would bid little Annie Laurie put on the faded lilac gown he admired so much, and they would go off for a stroll through the village, the admiration23 of every one in the place. They always walked down along the green-and-gold floor of Treasure Valley, because Martin said it reminded him of home; and always, before they returned, they went up the willow24 path to the mill, or down to the shanty25 at the Drowned Lands, for a visit to John McIntyre.
But while Miss Arabella walked about idly in her radiant dream, Susan was slaving day and night. For the wedding she and her eldest26 daughter were planning was to be no small affair. Bella wanted her aunt to be married in the church. She knew just how a church wedding should be conducted, and Wes Long had promised to write a piece about it and have it printed in the Lakeview papers. One sentence was already composed, "The happy party then repaired to the house of the bride's brother, where a sumptuous27 recherché déjeuner was served." Bella was almost alarmed at the high-sounding words, but Wes said they were used in all accounts of high-class weddings. There were two obstacles, however, in the way of a church wedding. One was the bridegroom, and the other the bride's brother. Martin announced that if Bella came any such tall doings as that over her old uncle, he'd kick over the traces, and he and Arabella would elope. Here he winked28 solemnly, and inquired if she didn't suppose Arabella was just the sort that would run away; and the little lilac lady hung her head and blushed, and Bella wondered why Elsie Cameron should laugh so. Then there was the blacksmith himself. Like most yielding husbands, he was subject to unaccountable fits of stubbornness, and seized this inopportune occasion to indulge in one. He positively29 refused, he announced dourly30, even in the face of Susan's demands, to make an Uncle Tom's Cabin parade of himself and Arabella by going trolloping up the church aisle31 with her. He regarded the whole scheme as one of the many indications of feminine folly32, and confided33 mournfully to the bridegroom that he might as well give up, for Susan's latest dodge35 was to make them have their dinner out in the yard, like the pigs. Why folks that had a decent roof over their heads should turn themselves out of house and home to eat like the tinkers, was past his knowledge. But you could never tell what weemen would be up to next. Why, when he was at Neeag'ra Falls——
But while he poured out his complaints his wife went on with her preparations, all unheeding. Though the church parade had to be given up for a house wedding, she saw to it that its grandeur36 was no whit37 diminished. The ceremony was to be performed in Arabella's own little parlor38, while the grand wedding dinner was to be served—not till two o'clock, the blacksmith learned with dismay—at her brother's house, under the orchard39 trees.
Only one thing more troubled the mistress of ceremonies. As the doctor was to be best man, and Elsie Cameron bridesmaid, and since the groom5 was rich, the Winters would have preferred to ask only the more genteel folks of the neighborhood—the minister's family, and a few of their Glenoro relatives. But Martin spoiled it all by asking John McIntyre and Davy Munn and the eldest orphan20. Susan tried to object, but Martin declared that Tim and Davy had helped to bring about the wedding; for if they had not been obliging enough to steal Arabella's dress, and lose it in the swamp, he argued, he would be there yet; so the boys deserved all the fun that was going. When the twins heard that an exception had been made in favor of Tim, they raised their voices in shrieking40 protest, and would have gone to the wedding willy-nilly, had not Mrs. Winters interviewed them, promising42 them unlimited43 bride's-cake when the affair was over, if they remained out of sight, and dire44 retribution should they disobey.
So the matter was finally settled by asking every one, irrespective of social position, and when the evening of Miss Arabella's wedding day came around once again everything was in readiness. Elsie Cameron came over in her white bridesmaid's gown, to see how Arabella liked her, and the doctor dropped in to show Martin how to stand up and behave himself, for once in his life. So when the time came to go home—for Mrs. Winters sent them away early, declaring she couldn't get a hand's turn done in such a crowd—what was more natural than that the groomsman should walk with the bridesmaid? He did not ask if he might; there was no need, for they were very good friends now. When he had returned that night from the rescue of Martin, all mud-splashed and exhausted45, he had read, with a glad leap of his heart, the message in her eyes and in her faltering46 words—he had vindicated47 himself.
By tacit consent they left the street and followed the path down into Treasure Valley. And as they went, Gilbert told her more fully34 the story of his relations with Martin; how his friend's heroic silence and his own selfish ambition had made him forget his duty. He did not spare himself; but he could afford to be severe, for Martin had told her everything, and she was full of contrition48 for her late blame.
They strolled through the rose-tinted mists of the valley, the perfume rising from the scented49 grasses and flowers at their feet. She looked like a tall June flower herself, Gilbert thought, as she walked ahead of him in the narrow pathway, slender and erect50 in her clinging white gown, with her delicately poised51 head like a golden blossom on its stem. As they left the violet-carpeted bank and crossed the white stepping-stones, an oriole, swinging far up on the topmost branch of the elm-tree, just where his golden wing caught the slant52 rays of the setting sun, suddenly burst into joyous53, bubbling song. The ringing notes followed them even after they had climbed the hill and were passing up the shadowy avenue of the orchard. And though they were neither aware of it as yet, he was singing the opening strains of that harmony that was some day to fill their united lives.
"Oh, there's many a man o' the Ca——"
Uncle Hughie came hobbling down the orchard path. His voice had an unusually joyous ring, therefore he reached a tremendous altitude, and the song ended abruptly54 in a husky shriek41.
"Huh! huh! hoots55! toots!" he was muttering to himself disgustedly, as he came upon the pair. "Och! hoch! yes! yes! indeed and indeed!" he remarked, with a significant smile that brought the color to Elsie's cheeks. "And is the arm better, doctor?" he asked, stopping, and patting the young man's injured member tenderly.
"Oh, yes; it's nothing. I'm in fine shape for the wedding to-morrow."
"Eh! eh! yes! yes!" The old man's face was alight with joy. "Eh! it takes the Almighty56 to be managing things, indeed. But, mind ye this! I would be finding out something about how He will be managing." His voice sank to a mysterious whisper. "I would be rastlin' it out last night, an' thinkin' how He'd been workin' an' turnin' an' twistin' things for the good o' the poor McIntyre body, an' the poor bits o' things Jake Sawyer adopted. I would be rastlin' it all out, an' mind ye—listen to this—He wouldn't be doin' it by Himself." His eyes shone like living amber57. "Oh, no, indeed. He would be handing over the job to folks—jist folks, mind ye! Eh! eh! wouldn't that be wonderful? An' it will jist be because we are such poor potterin' bodies, that we wouldn't be having the world patched up an' fixed58 right long ago. Och! it would be a great thing, indeed, that we would be having a hand in making the earth! And some day we will all be learning to do our part, jist as He wants it, and then that will be a fine day for the world, oh, a fine day, I tell you!" He started to move away.
"Where are you going, Uncle Hughie?" asked his niece. "The dew is falling, remember."
"Och! hoch! it is the troublesome lass you will be!" he cried, looking at her fondly. "I will jist be away a meenit. The minister and me would jist be goin' up to the mill for a word with John McIntyre. He's come home again—eh! eh! yes, he's jist come home. The dew! Hoch!"
"Oh, there's many a man o' the Ca——"
Early the next morning there was a tremendous rushing to and fro between the bride's house and her brother's. Everything in the village took on a holiday aspect. The orphans were up at dawn, and, decked in their best, flew hither and thither61, keeping things stirred up and lively. The school children had a holiday, because the Duke had to go to the wedding early, to help Mrs. Winters set the tables. The mill did not exactly stop running, but nobody settled down to work, for Wes Long, who left at ten o'clock to run home and put on his Sunday clothes, came tearing back in his white shirt-sleeves and with his hair all soapy and wet, with the news that Sandy McQuarry was already at Winters', dressed in his Sabbath blacks, and fetching and carrying for the Duke like a trained poodle. Whereupon every man in the mill threw up his job and went down and walked the logs in the pond, and danced, and shoved each other into the water, and behaved in a way that, as Granny Long reported afterward62 to Sandy, was nothing but defying the Almighty.
When the time set for the ceremony approached, Miss Arabella, arrayed in her blue wedding dress and a long white veil, stood in the little spare bedroom, surveying her trembling image in the mirror, between Red Riding-Hood and Little Bo-peep. She dared not sit down, for Susan said she would crush her flounces, and she stood clinging to the bedpost for support, looking like a little, frightened gray sparrow that had somehow got into a bluebird's feathers. Her bridesmaid stood by her, cheerful and encouraging; Bella was giving pulls and jerks to her aunt's gown and veil, and Susan was hurrying in and out, breathless and anxious. The guests had already begun to crush their way into the parlor, and their subdued63 voices came through the door.
"There's all Aunt Christena's folks jist drove up, maw," whispered Bella, rustling64 to the window in her stiff pink silk. "Cousin Martha's got the book with the wedding march under her arm. Goodness! there's the minister! Arabella, are you sure you're ready? An' there's Martin and Dr. Allen comin' down the street!" The bridesmaid came and peeped over her shoulder. "An' there's Marjorie Scott, Elsie! She's got her new blue dress on, and she said she was going to wear her old white! I bet that's because your Malcolm's home!"
"Yes, William?" whispered his sister faintly.
"Here's the preacher. You'd best come on out."
"Hish, William!" commanded his wife, on the other side of the keyhole. "She'll come out when I say so. He's a caution," she continued, straightening up, and looking at the drooping67 bride as though her brother's untoward68 conduct were all her fault. Miss Arabella drooped69 farther. She slipped her arm inside her bridesmaid's.
"Elsie, if anybody else comes, don't—don't let them tell me," she whispered piteously. "It makes me feel awful!"
The bridesmaid took her hand and patted it soothingly70. "I won't," she promised cheerily. "Don't listen to a word any one says. I'll tell you when it's time to go out, and there's nothing to be afraid of. Why, you look just lovely! And think how proud Martin will be! You mustn't get nervous, for his sake, you know."
"Arabella!" The keyhole once more gave forth71 a hissing72 whisper. "We've all been waiting half an hour."
Mrs. Winters tightened73 her teeth. "He'll spoil everything!" she declared. "It's awful old-fashioned for the bride to be on time, but you can't knock that into William's head. You might as well go, Arabella; and for pity's sakes, stand up straight, an' don't look so scared!"
She pushed the trembling little blue figure toward the door. "Elsie, you go first, and walk slow; no—wait! Bella, open the door and nod to Cousin Martha to start playin'."
Bella's head shot out and in, the door slammed again, and there arose from the other side of it faint, squeaky sounds from the organ.
"Goodness me! you can hardly hear her!" cried Mrs. Winters. "I told Christena Martha'd spoil it! My sakes! I wish Ella Anne Long hadn't run away so soon! Now open the door, Bella, awful slow. Now, Elsie, go on. Arabella, hang on to your flowers! It's a perfect shame your brother ain't with you! For goodness' sake, stand up straight, an' don't look as if you was goin' to be hung! Go on, Elsie!"
But the bride was clinging desperately74 to her maid's arm, and refused to let her go. "I—I can't go, Susan!" she whispered.
"Arabella's going to walk out holding my arm," said Elsie firmly, seeing that the little bride's condition demanded immediate76 relief.
"Well, go on, then," said Mrs. Winters, with a gesture of despair. "It'll be a fool of a thing, anyhow. Now, Bella, open the door, slow—slow!"
The door swung gradually, but when it was half open Mrs. Winters slammed it again.
"Arabella," she cried, in a panic, "did you shut Polly up?"
The bride stared at her, uncomprehending.
"No, she never, maw," whispered Bella hysterically77, "an' she'll be sure to come right out with them swear-words in the middle of everything."
Once more the bridesmaid met the emergency. "It can't be helped now," she said. "Please don't bother her. Open the door, Bella."
The door swung back for the third and last time, and the little blue figure and the tall white one walked slowly up to where Martin and the doctor stood before the minister. The distance from the spare bedroom door to their destination was a matter of about three yards, and Mrs. Winters had overlooked the fact that it was out of all proportion to the wedding march. Cousin Martha from Glenoro, in a panic of nervousness, was laboring78 hard to get to the end of it, but long after the bridal party was in position the faint, jerky sounds still wavered on, now vanishing altogether in a dumb show, now, just as the people were hopefully thinking the ordeal79 over, becoming huskily audible. There seemed enough of the thing, Mrs. Long said afterward, to give Arabella time to walk over to the next concession80 to get married.
The minister put on his glasses, took them off, fumbled81 with his handkerchief in his coat-tail pocket, and cleared his throat. The groom shifted from one foot to the other. Over in a corner, behind the sofa, Davy Munn and the eldest orphan ducked their heads and giggled82. Bella rattled her pink silk nervously83; Mrs. Winters frowned at her husband.
Cousin Martha from Glenoro turned another page, the wedding march took a new start, and grew stronger; and the blacksmith's small remnant of patience vanished. He leaned over the heads of half a dozen guests, and said in a loud whisper, "For the Lord's sake, Marthy, hold up a minit an' let 'em get hitched84!" The wedding march ceased abruptly; the guests drew a sigh of relief, and the ceremony began.
A deep hush85 fell over the crowded little room. To several there, besides the bride and groom, this ceremony was especially impressive. The groomsman felt a lump in his throat as he looked at Martin, and thought of all the years his little bride and the blue silk gown had waited, and how he had helped to lengthen86 the time. And over in a corner, sitting beside Tim, John McIntyre gazed at his old comrade's radiant face, and raised his heart in reverent87 thankfulness that they had been spared to see this day together.
The ceremony ended in a hushed solemnity, and when the minister pronounced them man and wife, and all bowed in prayer, even Tim, touched by the signs of emotion in John McIntyre's face, was quiet and well behaved. But, unfortunately, the house was too near the Sawyers' household to long enjoy peace and prosperity. Jake and Hannah, of course, were among the guests, and, the evening before, Mrs. Winters had secured a promise from Uncle Hughie Cameron to take the youngest orphan under his care during the wedding, and had wrung88 from the twins a solemn promise that they would neither be seen nor heard until after the dinner had been served. Faithful to their contract, the two had lain concealed89 beneath the lilacs, watching Arabella's home, and talking in breathless whispers while the guests were arriving. But when every one had disappeared indoors, and silence settled upon the village, time hung heavily upon the orphans' hands. They crawled out from their ambush90, and simultaneously91 their fertile brains were possessed92 of a scheme for enlivening the dull hours. They would have a wedding themselves! They had witnessed a ceremony at the Orphans' Home, when one of the maids was married, and knew exactly how it should be conducted. There were Isaac and Rebekah strutting93 about the back yard; they would serve as the bridal couple, and the twelve tribes would be guests. No sooner said than done; the twins set vigorously to work. The first and most important consideration, of course, was the bride's toilette, and there was that remnant of blue silk Miss Arabella had given them from her gown. The twins ran upstairs for it with screams of delight. It would fit beautifully around Rebekah's shoulders, and the smart tan shoes Nature had bestowed94 upon her would look perfectly95 elegant with a blue silk dress. They tore down the little lace curtain from the kitchen window for a bridal veil; and the next thing to be done was to catch Rebekah and dress her.
Now, the Sawyer cat, and the dog, yes, and even the pig, had at various times been arrayed in human apparel, but never yet had Rebekah been forced into the habiliments of civilization. She showed, from the first, a decided96 distaste for them. The twins struggled and panted, while the unwilling97 bride dodged98 and squawked and disarranged her toilet again and again, and the alarmed bridegroom flew hither and thither, with widespread pinions99, uttering loud protests.
But in spite of her struggles, Rebekah was at last made ready, and then arose the question of Isaac's dress. The black-haired twin, being the more venturesome of the two, suggested dressing100 him up in Joey's Sunday suit; but he was even harder to manage than the bride, and as he was just now showing an inclination101 to be violent, the breathless modistes decided, after the fashion of the day, not to bother about the bridegroom's clothes. So the fair-haired twin held Rebekah in a tight grip while her sister hitched Joshua to Joey's little cart, and placed him ready at the steps, to be used after the ceremony. Next, the black-haired twin took her turn at holding the protesting bride, while the other proceeded to dress up the veranda102 as a church; for this was to be no common home wedding like Arabella's. The parlor chairs were the pews, the sewing-machine was the organ, and Hannah's best red-and-white bedspread made a beautiful carpet for the aisle. The only thing needed now was a pulpit, and soon Lenora appeared in triumph from the kitchen, dragging an old wash-stand. It had a round opening in the top, in which the wash-basin fitted, and when she climbed up and let herself down into this aperture103 she looked as like Mr. Scott in his pulpit, her admiring sister declared, as two peas.
When everything was in readiness, and the fair-haired twin was setting out to capture the bridegroom, there arose an unfortunate dispute.
"I bar be the minister," said the black-haired twin.
"No, you don't! It's goin' to be me! I thought of the pulpit!"
"I don't care! I barred it first. You can play the organ."
"I won't! An' I can't, anyhow; somebody's got to hold Rebekah."
"Well, I'm goin' to be Mr. Scoot, so there!"
"Ain't!"
"Are so!"
The two would-be divines made a simultaneous dash for the place of honor, and scrambling104 upon it, crushed their way, side by side, into the hole, which was scarcely large enough for one. In the struggle Rebekah gained her liberty, and with a loud squawk she leaped down the steps, her blue gown and her bridal veil streaming behind. She flopped105 right on top of Joshua, who had lain down in his harness, and rudely broke his slumber106. Now, Joshua was a wise dog, who knew his own household, and would no more have thought of barking at Rebekah than at Hannah. But when this madly struggling bundle of clothes dashed over his nose he saw in it no smallest resemblance to anything he had ever permitted to pass his gateway107. So, hampered108 though he was by Joey's cart, he made a dash at his disguised friend, and, barking madly, chased her out through the gate. The two rival clergymen, nearly squeezed to death within the narrow confines of the pulpit, screamed, and struggled for liberty, and called on Joshua to come back, but to no purpose. Down the street he clattered109, snapping at Rebekah's flying veil. The runaway bride dodged this way and that, and finally darted110 in at Miss Arabella's gate, Joshua following fiercely. Miss Arabella's door also stood open. Rebekah dashed up the walk and into the house.
All had been very still in the crowded little parlor. The ceremony was over, and the bowed heads had just been raised from prayer, when into the reverent hush there penetrated111 from the kitchen a loud, complaining voice: "Oh, Lordy! ain't we havin' a slow time!" An electric current quivered through the room, the two boys in the corner writhed112 in a spasm113 of giggles114, and the minister said sternly, "Hush!" But the next instant the necessity for constraint115 was over. A tremendous uproar116 burst from the front doorway117, and into the midst of the wedding guests there dashed an astounding pair—a small, turbulent creature, dressed exactly like the bride, in blue silk and a streaming white veil, followed fiercely by a dog, dragging the remnants of a shattered cart. Around the room they leaped in a mad circle, upsetting everything in their way. Then the blue-robed creature, with a scream, rose above the heads of the astonished guests, and landed in the kitchen, with a deafening118 crash of breaking dishes. The rest of the disturbance119 followed, barking madly; Tim and Davy arose, and went bounding after them with whoops120 of joy, and above the din3 arose Polly's loud squall, in a most unseasonable complaint about the dullness of the times.
Everybody declared afterward that no woman in the county of Simcoe could have brought order out of that chaos121 except Susan Winters. She drove out the noisy intruders with the broomstick, silenced the two uproarious wedding guests with the same instrument, and brought the hilarious122 company to something like decorum by ordering them to form in procession for the wedding dinner. A slight delay occurred when it was found that Jake and Hannah Sawyer were missing. Attracted by agonized123 shrieks124 from the direction of their home, they left precipitately125, and several of the wedding guests, unacquainted with the orphans' ways, followed them in consternation126. They soon returned, however. Jake had liberated127 the twins by sawing the washstand asunder128, and the parents brought the two unfortunates with them. Even Mrs. Winters made them welcome when she saw their tearful faces, and they joined the procession, profoundly thankful for the untoward circumstance that had produced such joyful60 results.
But the little episode had another happy outcome that made the bridegroom's eyes shine with something deeper than even his own joy. Just as the fantastic figure of Rebekah had disappeared into the kitchen, the groomsman touched Martin's arm gently, and whispered, "Look at McIntyre!" The bridegroom turned; his grave, silent friend had been watching the grotesque129 little creature with a smile slowly breaking over his face, and when Tim arose, with a yell, and bounded after her, John McIntyre threw back his head and laughed. Yes, the repellant, dark-faced watchman laughed, a deep, hearty130, joyous laugh, and the sound of it brought a smarting mist to the kindly131, watching eyes of his friend.
The procession was soon formed, and it slowly moved out through the front door, across the tiny garden, and down the shady avenue of the orchard. Very proudly the big bridegroom walked with his little bride on his arm. She was no longer drooping and pathetic-looking now, but erect and radiant. Behind came their two attendants, Gilbert's wondering eyes watching the changing bronze and gold of the bridesmaid's hair, as the sunlight and the green shadows alternately played over it. The minister and the triumphant132 mistress of ceremonies came next, followed by the blacksmith, leading the minister's wife, and growing more cheerful each moment as he neared his dinner. The rest had arranged themselves as best suited their inclinations133, and not far down the line moved a happy quartette—Marjorie and Malcolm, oblivious134 to everything but each other, and behind them Sandy McQuarry and the stately Duke; and a glance at the faces of the four would have puzzled an observer to guess which pair was at that moment experiencing more of the joy of youth and love.
Down the grassy135 aisle the happy procession passed, through the flecking light and shade, where the long, white tables were laid beneath the apple boughs136. And as they moved, a bluebird, swinging far above them in the sunlight, caroled forth a joyous marriage hymn137. And down below, the little blue silk gown, of the same shade as his dazzling plumage, covered a heart just as happy.
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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indigo
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| n.靛青，靛蓝 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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robins
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| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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9
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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11
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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12
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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13
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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14
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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15
daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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16
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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17
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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18
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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19
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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20
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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21
orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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22
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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23
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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24
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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25
shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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26
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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27
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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28
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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29
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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30
dourly
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31
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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32
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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33
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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34
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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35
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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36
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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37
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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38
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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39
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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40
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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41
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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42
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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43
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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44
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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45
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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46
faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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47
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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48
contrition
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| n.悔罪，痛悔 | |
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49
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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50
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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51
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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52
slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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53
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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54
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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55
hoots
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| 咄，啐 | |
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56
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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57
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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58
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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59
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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60
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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61
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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62
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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63
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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64
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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65
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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66
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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67
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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68
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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69
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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71
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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72
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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73
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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74
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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75
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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77
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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78
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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79
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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80
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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81
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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82
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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84
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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85
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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86
lengthen
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| vt.使伸长，延长 | |
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87
reverent
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| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
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88
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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89
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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90
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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91
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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92
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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93
strutting
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| 加固，支撑物 | |
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94
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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96
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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97
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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98
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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99
pinions
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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100
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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101
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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102
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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103
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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104
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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105
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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106
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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107
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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108
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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110
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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111
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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112
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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114
giggles
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| n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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115
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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116
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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117
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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118
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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119
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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120
whoops
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| int.呼喊声 | |
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121
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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122
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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123
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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124
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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125
precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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126
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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127
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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128
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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129
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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130
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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131
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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132
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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133
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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134
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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135
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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136
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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137
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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