按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
45
… Page 46…
Miss or Mrs。？
not a single difficulty left。〃
He turned to Natalie； listening to him in amazement； and explained
himself。 It had struck him that he might appealwith his purse in his hand；
of courseto the interest felt in his affairs by the late stewardess of the
yacht。 That excellent woman had volunteered to do all that she could to
help him。 Her husband had obtained situations for his wife and himself on
board another yachtand they were both eager to assist in any conspiracy
in which their late merciless master was destined to play the part of victim。
When on shore； they lived in a populous London parish； far away from the
fashionable district of Berkeley Square； and further yet from the
respectable suburb of Muswell Hill。 A room in the house could be
nominally engaged for Natalie； in the assumed character of the
stewardess's niecethe stewardess undertaking to answer any purely
formal questions which might be put by the church authorities； and to be
present at the marriage ceremony。 As for Launce； he would actually； as
well as nominally； live in the district close by； and the steward； if needful；
would answer for _him_。 Natalie might call at her parochial residence
occasionally； under the wing of Lady Winwood； gaining leave of absence
from Muswell Hill； on the plea of paying one of her customary visits at
her aunt's house。 The conspiracy； in brief； was arranged in all its details。
Nothing was now wanting but the consent of the young lady； obtaining
which； Launce would go to the parish church and give the necessary
notice of a marriage by banns on the next day。 There was the plot。 What
did the ladies think of it？
Lady Winwood thought it perfect。
Natalie was not so easily satisfied。
〃My father has always been so kind to me！〃 she said。 〃The one thing I
can't get over； Launce； is distressing papa。 If he had been hard on meas
some fathers areI shouldn't mind。〃 She suddenly brightened； as if she
saw her position in a new light。 〃Why should you hurry me？〃 she asked。 〃I
am going to dine at my aunt's to…day； and you are coming in the evening。
Give me time！ Wait till to…night。〃
Launce instantly entered his protest against wasting a moment longer。
46
… Page 47…
Miss or Mrs。？
Lady Winwood opened her lips to support him。 They were both silenced at
the same moment by the appearance of one of Mrs。 Sancroft's servants；
opening the gate of the square。
Lady Winwood went forward to meet the man。 A suspicion crossed her
mind that he might be bringing bad news。
〃What do you want？〃 she asked。
〃I beg your pardon； my ladythe housekeeper said you were walking
here with Miss Graybrooke。 A telegram for Miss Graybrooke。〃
Lady Winwood took the telegram from the man's hand； dismissed him；
and went back with it to Natalie。 Natalie opened it nervously。 She read the
messageand instantly changed。 Her cheeks flushed deep； her eyes
flashed with indignation。 〃Even papa can be hard on me； it seems； when
Richard asks him！〃 she exclaimed。 She handed the telegram to Launce。
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears。 〃_You_ love me；〃 she said； gently
and stopped。 〃Marry me！〃 she added； with a sudden burst of resolution。
〃I'll risk it！〃
As she spoke those words； Lady Winwood read the telegram。 It ran
thus：
〃Sir Joseph Graybrooke； Muswell Hill。 To Miss Natalie Graybrooke；
Berkeley Square。 Come back immediately。 You are engaged to dine here
with Richard Turlington。〃
Lady Winwood folded up the telegram with a malicious smile。 〃Well
done； Sir Joseph！〃 thought her ladyship。 〃We might never have persuaded
Nataliebut for You！〃
47
… Page 48…
Miss or Mrs。？
SIXTH SCENE。
The Church。
The time is morning； the date is early in the month of November。 The
place is a church； in a poor and populous parish in the undiscovered
regions of London； eastward of the Tower； and hard by the river…side。
A marriage procession of five approaches the altar The bridegroom is
pale； and the bride is frightened。 The bride's friend （a resolute…looking
little lady） encourages her in whispers。 The two respectable persons；
apparently man and wife； who complete the procession； seem to be not
quite clear as to the position which they occupy at the ceremony。 The
beadle； as he marshals them before the altar； sees something under the
surface in this wedding…party。 Marriages in the lower ranks of life are the
only marriages celebrated here。 Is this a runaway match？ The beadle
anticipates something out of the common in the shape of a fee。
The clergyman （the junior curate） appears from the vestry in his robes。
The clerk takes his place。 The clergyman's eye rests with a sudden interest
and curiosity on the bride and bridegroom； and on the bride's friend；
notices the absence of elderly relatives； remarks； in the two ladies
especially； evidences of refinement and breeding entirely unparalleled in
his professional experience of brides and brides' friends standing before
the altar of that church； questions； silently and quickly； the eye of the clerk；
occupied also in observing the strangers with interest 〃Jenkinson〃 （the
clergyman's look asks）； 〃is this all right？〃 〃Sir〃 （the clerk's look answers）；
〃a marriage by banns； all the formalities have been observed。〃 The
clergyman opens his book。 The formalities have been observed； his duty
lies plainly before him。 Attention； Launcelot！ Courage； Natalie！ The
service begins。
Launce casts a last furtive look round the church。 Will Sir Joseph
Graybrooke start up and stop it from one of the empty pews？ Is Richard
Turlington lurking in the organ…loft； and only waiting till the words of the
48
… Page 49…
Miss or Mrs。？
service appeal to him to prohibit the marr