Annesley?" Mrs. Annesley was standing close by, as was also Miss
Thoroughbung, but she made no answer to the appeal. People who
understood anything knew that Mrs. Annesley would not be gratified by
such an allusion. But Mr. Crabtree was a man who understood nothing.
"The old birds never pair so readily as the young ones," said Miss
Thoroughbung.
"Old! Who talks of being old?" said Mr. Crabtree. "My friend Prosper is
quite a boy. There's a good time coming, and I hope you'll give way yet,
Miss Thoroughbung."
Then they were all marshalled on their way to church. It is quite out of
my power to describe the bride's dress, or that of the bride's maids.
They were the bride's sisters and two of Joe's sisters. An attempt had
been made to induce Florence Mountjoy to come down, but it had been
unsuccessful. Things had gone so far now at Cheltenham that Mrs.
Mountjoy had been driven to acknowledge that if Florence held to her
project for three years she should be allowed to marry Harry Annesley.
But she had accompanied this permission by many absurd restrictions.
Florence was not to see him, at any rate, during the first year; but she
was to see Mountjoy Scarborough if he came to Cheltenham. Florence
declared this to be impossible; but, as the Buston marriage took place
just at this moment, she could not have her way in everything.
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