Epilogue
Sir Stafford Nye wrote out a telegraph message for the third time.
ZP 354 XB 91 DEP S.Y.
HAVE ARRANGED FOR MARRIAGE CEREMONY TO BE PERFORMED ON THURSDAY OF NEXTWEEK AT ST CHRISTOPHERS IN THE VALE LOWER STAUNTON 2.30 PM STOP ORDINARYCHURCH OF ENGLAND SERVICE IF R.C . OR GREEK ORTHODOX DESIRED PLEASE WIRE IN-STRUCTIONS STOP WHERE ARE YOU AND WHAT NAME DO YOU WISH TO USE FOR MAR-RIAGE CEREMONY STOP NAUGHTY NIECE OF MINE FIVE YEARS OLD AND HIGHLY DIS-OBEDIENT WISHES TO ATTEND AS BRIDESMAID RATHER SWEET REALLY NAME OF SYBILSTOP LOCAL HONEYMOON¹ AS I THINK WE HAVE TRAVELLED ENOUGH LATELY STOPSIGNED PASSENGER TO FRANKFURT .
TO STAFFORD NYE BXY42698
ACCEPT SYBIL AS BRIDESMAID SUGGEST GREAT AUNT MATILDA AS MATRON OF HONOURSTOP ALSO ACCEPT PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE THOUGH NOT OFFICIALLY MADE STOP C OFE QUITE SATISFACTORY ALSO HONEYMOON ARRANGEMENTS STOP INSIST PANDA SHOULDALSO BE PRESENT STOP NO GOOD SAYING WHERE I AM AS I SHANT BE WHEN THISREACHES YOU STOP SIGNED MARY ANN
‘Do I look all right?’ asked Stafford Nye nervously², twisting his head tolook in the glass.
He was having a dress rehearsal³ of his wedding clothes.
‘No worse than any other bridegroom,’ said Lady Matilda. ‘They’re al-ways nervous. Not like brides who are usually quite blatantly⁴ exultant⁵.’
‘Suppose she doesn’t come?’
‘She’ll come.’
‘I feel–I feel–rather queer inside.’
‘That’s because you would have a second helping⁶ of p?té de foie gras.
You’ve just got bridegroom’s nerves. Don’t fuss so much, Staffy. You’ll beall right on the night– I mean you’ll be all right when you get to thechurch–’
‘That reminds me–’
‘You haven’t forgotten to buy the ring?’
‘No, no, it’s just I forgot to tell you that I’ve got a present for you, AuntMatilda.’
‘That’s very nice of you, dear boy.’
‘You said the organist had gone–’

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