Alltheoldladiesinbothfamilieshadgotouttheirfadedsablesandyellowingermines,andthesmellofcamphorfromthefrontpewsalmostsmotheredthefaintspringscentoftheliliesbankingthealtar.
NewlandArcher,atasignalfromthesexton,hadcomeoutofthevestryandplacedhimselfwithhisbestmanonthechancelstepofGraceChurch.
Thesignalmeantthatthebroughambearingthebrideandherfatherwasinsight;buttherewassuretobeaconsiderableintervalofadjustmentandconsultationinthelobby,wherethebridesmaidswerealreadyhoveringlikeaclusterofEasterblossoms.
Duringthisunavoidablelapseoftimethebridegroom,inproofofhiseagerness,wasexpectedtoexposehimselfalonetothegazeoftheassembledcompany;andArcherhadgonethroughthisformalityasresignedlyasthroughalltheotherswhichmadeofanineteenthcenturyNewYorkweddingaritethatseemedtobelongtothedawnofhistory.
Everythingwasequallyeasy—orequallypainful,asonechosetoputit—inthepathhewascommittedtotread,andhehadobeyedtheflurriedinjunctionsofhisbestmanaspiouslyasotherbridegroomshadobeyedhisown,inthedayswhenhehadguidedthemthroughthesamelabyrinth.
Thebridesmaids'eightbouquetsofwhitelilacandlilies–of–the–valleyhadbeensentinduetime,aswellasthegoldandsapphiresleeve–linksoftheeightushersandthebestman'scat's–eyescarf–pin;Archerhadsatuphalfthenighttryingtovarythewordingofhisthanksforthelastbatchofpresentsfrommenfriendsandex–lady–loves;thefeesfortheBishopandtheRectorweresafelyinthepocketofhisbestman;hisownluggagewasalreadyatMrs.MansonMingott's,wherethewedding–breakfastwastotakeplace,andsowerethetravellingclothesintowhichhewastochange;andaprivatecompartmenthadbeenengagedinthetrainthatwastocarrytheyoungcoupletotheirunknowndestination—concealmentofthespotinwhichthebridalnightwastobespentbeingoneofthemostsacredtaboosoftheprehistoricritual.
"Gottheringallright?"whisperedyoungvanderLuydenNewland,whowasinexperiencedinthedutiesofabestman,andawedbytheweightofhisresponsibility.
Archermadethegesturewhichhehadseensomanybridegroomsmake:withhisunglovedrighthandhefeltinthepocketofhisdarkgreywaistcoat,andassuredhimselfthatthelittlegoldcirclet(engravedinside:NewlandtoMay,April—–,187–)wasinitsplace;then,resuminghisformerattitude,histallhatandpearl–greygloveswithblackstitchingsgraspedinhislefthand,hestoodlookingatthedoorofthechurch.
Overhead,Handel'sMarchswelledpompouslythroughtheimitationstonevaulting,carryingonitswavesthefadeddriftofthemanyweddingsatwhich,withcheerfulindifference,hehadstoodonthesamechancelstepwatchingotherbridesfloatupthenavetowardotherbridegrooms.
"HowlikeafirstnightattheOpera!"hethought,recognisingallthesamefacesinthesameboxes(no,pews),andwonderingif,whentheLastTrumpsounded,Mrs.SelfridgeMerrywouldbetherewiththesametoweringostrichfeathersinherbonnet,andMrs.Beaufortwiththesamediamondearringsandthesamesmile—andwhethersuitableprosceniumseatswerealreadypreparedfortheminanotherworld.
Afterthattherewasstilltimetoreview,onebyone,thefamiliarcountenancesinthefirstrows;thewomen'ssharpwithcuriosityandexcitement,themen'ssulkywiththeobligationofhavingtoputontheirfrock–coatsbeforeluncheon,andfightforfoodatthewedding–breakfast.
"ButI'mtoldthatLovellMingottinsistedonitsbeingcookedbyhisownchef,soitoughttobegoodifonecanonlygetatit."
Archer'seyeslingeredamomentontheleft–handpew,wherehismother,whohadenteredthechurchonMr.HenryvanderLuyden'sarm,satweepingsoftlyunderherChantillyveil,herhandsinhergrandmother'serminemuff.
"PoorJaney!"hethought,lookingathissister,"evenbyscrewingherheadaroundshecanseeonlythepeopleinthefewfrontpews;andthey'remostlydowdyNewlandsandDagonets."
OnthehithersideofthewhiteribbondividingofftheseatsreservedforthefamilieshesawBeaufort,tallandredfaced,scrutinisingthewomenwithhisarrogantstare.
Besidehimsathiswife,allsilverychinchillaandviolets;andonthefarsideoftheribbon,LawrenceLefferts'ssleeklybrushedheadseemedtomountguardovertheinvisibledeityof"GoodForm"whopresidedattheceremony.
ArcherwonderedhowmanyflawsLefferts'skeeneyeswoulddiscoverintheritualofhisdivinity;thenhesuddenlyrecalledthathetoohadoncethoughtsuchquestionsimportant.
Thethingsthathadfilledhisdaysseemednowlikeanurseryparodyoflife,orlikethewranglesofmediaevalschoolmenovermetaphysicaltermsthatnobodyhadeverunderstood.
Astormydiscussionastowhethertheweddingpresentsshouldbe"shown"haddarkenedthelasthoursbeforethewedding;anditseemedinconceivabletoArcherthatgrown–uppeopleshouldworkthemselvesintoastateofagitationoversuchtrifles,andthatthemattershouldhavebeendecided(inthenegative)byMrs.Welland'ssaying,withindignanttears:"Ishouldassoonturnthereporterslooseinmyhouse."
YettherewasatimewhenArcherhadhaddefiniteandratheraggressiveopinionsonallsuchproblems,andwheneverythingconcerningthemannersandcustomsofhislittletribehadseemedtohimfraughtwithworld–widesignificance.
ThecautiousopeningofthedoorofthechurchmeantonlythatMr.Brownthelivery–stablekeeper(gownedinblackinhisintermittentcharacterofsexton)wastakingapreliminarysurveyofthescenebeforemarshallinghisforces.
Thedoorwassoftlyshutagain;thenafteranotherintervalitswungmajesticallyopen,andamurmurranthroughthechurch:"Thefamily!"
Herlargepinkfacewasappropriatelysolemn,andherplum–colouredsatinwithpaleblueside–panels,andblueostrichplumesinasmallsatinbonnet,metwithgeneralapproval;butbeforeshehadsettledherselfwithastatelyrustleinthepewoppositeMrs.Archer'sthespectatorswerecraningtheirneckstoseewhowascomingafterher.
WildrumourshadbeenabroadthedaybeforetotheeffectthatMrs.MansonMingott,inspiteofherphysicaldisabilities,hadresolvedonbeingpresentattheceremony;andtheideawassomuchinkeepingwithhersportingcharacterthatbetsranhighattheclubsastoherbeingabletowalkupthenaveandsqueezeintoaseat.
Itwasknownthatshehadinsistedonsendingherowncarpentertolookintothepossibilityoftakingdowntheendpanelofthefrontpew,andtomeasurethespacebetweentheseatandthefront;buttheresulthadbeendiscouraging,andforoneanxiousdayherfamilyhadwatchedherdallyingwiththeplanofbeingwheeledupthenaveinherenormousBathchairandsittingenthronedinitatthefootofthechancel.
Theideaofthismonstrousexposureofherpersonwassopainfultoherrelationsthattheycouldhavecoveredwithgoldtheingeniouspersonwhosuddenlydiscoveredthatthechairwastoowidetopassbetweentheironuprightsoftheawningwhichextendedfromthechurchdoortothecurbstone.
Theideaofdoingawaywiththisawning,andrevealingthebridetothemobofdressmakersandnewspaperreporterswhostoodoutsidefightingtogetnearthejointsofthecanvas,exceededevenoldCatherine'scourage,thoughforamomentshehadweighedthepossibility.
Mrs.Wellandexclaimedwhenhermother'slastplanwashintedtoher;andfromthisunthinkableindecencytheclanrecoiledwithacollectiveshudder.
Theancestresshadhadtogivein;butherconcessionwasboughtonlybythepromisethatthewedding–breakfastshouldtakeplaceunderherroof,though(astheWashingtonSquareconnectionsaid)withtheWellands'houseineasyreachitwashardtohavetomakeaspecialpricewithBrowntodriveonetotheotherendofnowhere.
ThoughallthesetransactionshadbeenwidelyreportedbytheJacksonsasportingminoritystillclungtothebeliefthatoldCatherinewouldappearinchurch,andtherewasadistinctloweringofthetemperaturewhenshewasfoundtohavebeenreplacedbyherdaughter–in–law.
Mrs.LovellMingotthadthehighcolourandglassystareinducedinladiesofherageandhabitbytheeffortofgettingintoanewdress;butoncethedisappointmentoccasionedbyhermother–in–law'snon–appearancehadsubsided,itwasagreedthatherblackChantillyoverlilacsatin,withabonnetofParmaviolets,formedthehappiestcontrasttoMrs.Welland'sblueandplum–colour.
FardifferentwastheimpressionproducedbythegauntandmincingladywhofollowedonMr.Mingott'sarm,inawilddishevelmentofstripesandfringesandfloatingscarves;andasthislastapparitionglidedintoviewArcher'sheartcontractedandstoppedbeating.
HehadtakenitforgrantedthattheMarchionessMansonwasstillinWashington,whereshehadgonesomefourweekspreviouslywithherniece,MadameOlenska.
ItwasgenerallyunderstoodthattheirabruptdeparturewasduetoMadameOlenska'sdesiretoremoveherauntfromthebalefuleloquenceofDr.AgathonCarver,whohadnearlysucceededinenlistingherasarecruitfortheValleyofLove;andinthecircumstancesnoonehadexpectedeitheroftheladiestoreturnforthewedding.
ForamomentArcherstoodwithhiseyesfixedonMedora'sfantasticfigure,strainingtoseewhocamebehindher;butthelittleprocessionwasatanend,forallthelessermembersofthefamilyhadtakentheirseats,andtheeighttallushers,gatheringthemselvestogetherlikebirdsorinsectspreparingforsomemigratorymanoeuvre,werealreadyslippingthroughthesidedoorsintothelobby.
Alongtimehadapparentlypassedsincehishearthadstoppedbeating,forthewhiteandrosyprocessionwasinfacthalfwayupthenave,theBishop,theRectorandtwowhite–wingedassistantswerehoveringabouttheflower–bankedaltar,andthefirstchordsoftheSpohrsymphonywerestrewingtheirflower–likenotesbeforethebride.
Themusic,thescentoftheliliesonthealtar,thevisionofthecloudoftulleandorange–blossomsfloatingnearerandnearer,thesightofMrs.Archer'sfacesuddenlyconvulsedwithhappysobs,thelowbenedictorymurmuroftheRector'svoice,theorderedevolutionsoftheeightpinkbridesmaidsandtheeightblackushers:allthesesights,soundsandsensations,sofamiliarinthemselves,sounutterablystrangeandmeaninglessinhisnewrelationtothem,wereconfusedlymingledinhisbrain.
Then,inamoment,Maywasbesidehim,suchradiancestreamingfromherthatitsentafaintwarmththroughhisnumbness,andhestraightenedhimselfandsmiledintohereyes.
Theringwasonherhand,theBishop'sbenedictionhadbeengiven,thebridesmaidswerea–poisetoresumetheirplaceintheprocession,andtheorganwasshowingpreliminarysymptomsofbreakingoutintotheMendelssohnMarch,withoutwhichnonewly–weddedcouplehadeveremergeduponNewYork.
"Yourarm—ISAY,GIVEHERYOURARM!"youngNewlandnervouslyhissed;andoncemoreArcherbecameawareofhavingbeenadriftfaroffintheunknown.
Perhapstheglimpse,amongtheanonymousspectatorsinthetransept,ofadarkcoilofhairunderahatwhich,amomentlater,revealeditselfasbelongingtoanunknownladywithalongnose,solaughablyunlikethepersonwhoseimageshehadevokedthatheaskedhimselfifhewerebecomingsubjecttohallucinations.
Andnowheandhiswifewerepacingslowlydownthenave,carriedforwardonthelightMendelssohnripples,thespringdaybeckoningtothemthroughwidelyopeneddoors,andMrs.Welland'schestnuts,withbigwhitefavoursontheirfrontlets,curvettingandshowingoffatthefarendofthecanvastunnel.
Thefootman,whohadastillbiggerwhitefavouronhislapel,wrappedMay'swhitecloakabouther,andArcherjumpedintothebroughamatherside.
"Darling!"Archersaid—andsuddenlythesameblackabyssyawnedbeforehimandhefelthimselfsinkingintoit,deeperanddeeper,whilehisvoicerambledonsmoothlyandcheerfully:"Yes,ofcourseIthoughtI'dlostthering;noweddingwouldbecompleteifthepoordevilofabridegroomdidn'tgothroughthat.ButyouDIDkeepmewaiting,youknow!
Shesurprisedhimbyturning,infullFifthAvenue,andflingingherarmsabouthisneck."ButnoneeverCANhappennow,canit,Newland,aslongaswetwoaretogether?"
Everydetailofthedayhadbeensocarefullythoughtoutthattheyoungcouple,afterthewedding–breakfast,hadampletimetoputontheirtravelling–clothes,descendthewideMingottstairsbetweenlaughingbridesmaidsandweepingparents,andgetintothebroughamunderthetraditionalshowerofriceandsatinslippers;andtherewasstillhalfanhourleftinwhichtodrivetothestation,buythelastweekliesatthebookstallwiththeairofseasonedtravellers,andsettlethemselvesinthereservedcompartmentinwhichMay'smaidhadalreadyplacedherdove–colouredtravellingcloakandglaringlynewdressing–bagfromLondon.
TheoldduLacauntsatRhinebeckhadputtheirhouseatthedisposalofthebridalcouple,withareadinessinspiredbytheprospectofspendingaweekinNewYorkwithMrs.Archer;andArcher,gladtoescapetheusual"bridalsuite"inaPhiladelphiaorBaltimorehotel,hadacceptedwithanequalalacrity.
Maywasenchantedattheideaofgoingtothecountry,andchildishlyamusedatthevaineffortsoftheeightbridesmaidstodiscoverwheretheirmysteriousretreatwassituated.
Itwasthought"veryEnglish"tohaveacountry–houselenttoone,andthefactgavealasttouchofdistinctiontowhatwasgenerallyconcededtobethemostbrilliantweddingoftheyear;butwherethehousewasnoonewaspermittedtoknow,excepttheparentsofbrideandgroom,who,whentaxedwiththeknowledge,pursedtheirlipsandsaidmysteriously:"Ah,theydidn'ttellus—"whichwasmanifestlytrue,sincetherewasnoneedto.
Oncetheyweresettledintheircompartment,andthetrain,shakingofftheendlesswoodensuburbs,hadpushedoutintothepalelandscapeofspring,talkbecameeasierthanArcherhadexpected.
Maywasstill,inlookandtone,thesimplegirlofyesterday,eagertocomparenoteswithhimastotheincidentsofthewedding,anddiscussingthemasimpartiallyasabridesmaidtalkingitalloverwithanusher.
AtfirstArcherhadfanciedthatthisdetachmentwasthedisguiseofaninwardtremor;buthercleareyesrevealedonlythemosttranquilunawareness.
Therewasnoonewhomshelikedasmuch,noonewhomshetrustedascompletely,andtheculminating"lark"ofthewholedelightfuladventureofengagementandmarriagewastobeoffwithhimaloneonajourney,likeagrownupperson,likea"marriedwoman,"infact.
Itwaswonderfulthat—ashehadlearnedintheMissiongardenatSt.Augustine—suchdepthsoffeelingcouldcoexistwithsuchabsenceofimagination.
Butherememberedhow,eventhen,shehadsurprisedhimbydroppingbacktoinexpressivegirlishnessassoonasherconsciencehadbeeneasedofitsburden;andhesawthatshewouldprobablygothroughlifedealingtothebestofherabilitywitheachexperienceasitcame,butneveranticipatinganybysomuchasastolenglance.
Perhapsthatfacultyofunawarenesswaswhatgavehereyestheirtransparency,andherfacethelookofrepresentingatyperatherthanaperson;asifshemighthavebeenchosentoposeforaCivicVirtueoraGreekgoddess.
Thebloodthatransoclosetoherfairskinmighthavebeenapreservingfluidratherthanaravagingelement;yetherlookofindestructibleyouthfulnessmadeherseemneitherhardnordull,butonlyprimitiveandpure.
InthethickofthismeditationArchersuddenlyfelthimselflookingatherwiththestartledgazeofastranger,andplungedintoareminiscenceofthewedding–breakfastandofGrannyMingott'simmenseandtriumphantpervasionofit.
Maysettleddowntofrankenjoymentofthesubject."Iwassurprised,though—weren'tyou?—thatauntMedoracameafterall.
Hehadknownthatthemomentmustcomesoonerorlater,buthehadsomewhatimaginedthatbyforceofwillinghemightholditatbay.
"Yes—I—no:yes,itwasbeautiful,"hesaid,lookingatherblindly,andwonderingif,wheneverheheardthosetwosyllables,allhiscarefullybuilt–upworldwouldtumbleabouthimlikeahouseofcards.
"Aren'tyoutired?Itwillbegoodtohavesometeawhenwearrive—I'msuretheauntshavegoteverythingbeautifullyready,"herattledon,takingherhandinhis;andhermindrushedawayinstantlytothemagnificentteaandcoffeeserviceofBaltimoresilverwhichtheBeaufortshadsent,andwhich"went"soperfectlywithuncleLovellMingott'straysandside–dishes.
InthespringtwilightthetrainstoppedattheRhinebeckstation,andtheywalkedalongtheplatformtothewaitingcarriage.
"Ah,howawfullykindofthevanderLuydens—they'vesenttheirmanoverfromSkuyterclifftomeetus,"Archerexclaimed,asasedatepersonoutofliveryapproachedthemandrelievedthemaidofherbags.
"I'mextremelysorry,sir,"saidthisemissary,"thatalittleaccidenthasoccurredattheMissduLacs':aleakinthewater–tank.
Ithappenedyesterday,andMr.vanderLuyden,whoheardofitthismorning,sentahousemaidupbytheearlytraintogetthePatroon'shouseready.
Itwillbequitecomfortable,Ithinkyou'llfind,sir;andtheMissduLacshavesenttheircookover,sothatitwillbeexactlythesameasifyou'dbeenatRhinebeck."
Archerstaredatthespeakersoblanklythatherepeatedinstillmoreapologeticaccents:"It'llbeexactlythesame,sir,Idoassureyou—"andMay'seagervoicebrokeout,coveringtheembarrassedsilence:"ThesameasRhinebeck?ThePatroon'shouse?
Andastheydroveoff,withthemaidbesidethecoachman,andtheirshiningbridalbagsontheseatbeforethem,shewentonexcitedly:"Onlyfancy,I'veneverbeeninsideit—haveyou?
Share this article to
FINISH