May-day.  There is merry-making in Cripple Corner, the chimneys smoke, the patriarchal dining-hall is hung with garlands, and Mrs. Goldstraw, the respected housekeeper¹, is very busy.  For, on this bright morning the young master of Cripple Corner is married to its young mistress, far away: to wit, in the little town of Brieg, in Switzerland, lying at the foot of the Simplon Pass where she saved his life.

The bells ring gaily² in the little town of Brieg, and flags are stretched across the street, and rifle shots are heard, and sounding music from brass³ instruments.  Streamer-decorated casks of wine have been rolled out under a gay awning⁴ in the public way before the Inn, and there will be free feasting and revelry.  What with bells and banners, draperies hanging from windows, explosion of gunpowder⁵, and reverberation⁶ of brass music, the little town of Brieg is all in a flutter, like the hearts of its simple people.

It was a stormy night last night, and the mountains are covered with snow.  But the sun is bright to-day, the sweet air is fresh, the tin spires⁷ of the little town of Brieg are burnished⁸ silver, and the Alps are ranges of far-off white cloud in a deep blue sky.

The primitive⁹ people of the little town of Brieg have built a greenwood arch across the street, under which the newly married pair shall pass in triumph from the church.  It is inscribed¹⁰, on that side, “HONOUR AND LOVE TO MARGUERITE VENDALE!” for the people are proud of her to enthusiasm.  This greeting of the bride under her new name is affectionately meant as a surprise, and therefore the arrangement has been made that she, unconscious why, shall be taken to the church by a

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