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Miss or Mrs。？
service appeal to him to prohibit the marriage； or 〃else hereafter forever to
hold his peace？〃 No。 The clergyman proceeds steadily； and nothing
happens。 Natalie's charming face grows paler and paler； Natalie's heart
throbs faster and faster； as the time comes nearer for reading the words
which unite them for life。 Lady Winwood herself feels an unaccustomed
fluttering in the region of the bosom。 Her ladyship's thoughts revert； not
altogether pleasantly； to her own marriage： 〃Ah me！ what was I thinking
of when I was in this position？ Of the bride's beautiful dress； and of Lady
Winwood's coming presentation at court！〃
The service advances to the words in which they plight their troth。
Launce has put the ring on her finger。 Launce has repeated the words after
the clergyman。 Launce has married her！ Done！ Come what may of it；
done！
The service ends。 Bridegroom； bride； and witnesses go into the vestry
to sign the book。 The signing； like the service； is serious。 No trifling with
the truth is possible here。 When it comes to Lady Winwood's turn； Lady
Winwood must write her name。 She does it； but without her usual grace
and decision。 She drops her handkerchief。 The clerk picks it up for her；
and notices that a coronet is embroidered in one corner。
The fees are paid。 They leave the vestry。 Other couples； when it is over；
are talkative and happy。 These two are more silent and more embarrassed
than ever。 Stranger still； while other couples go off with relatives and
friends； all socially united in honor of the occasion； these two and their
friends part at the church door。 The respectable man and his wife go their
way on foot。 The little lady with the coronet on her handkerchief puts the
bride into a cab； gets in herself； and directs the driver to close the door；
while the bridegroom is standing on the church steps！ The bridegroom's
face is clouded； as well it may be。 He puts his head in at the window of the
cab； he possesses himself of the bride's hand； he speaks in a whisper； he is
apparently not to be shaken off。 The little lady exerts her authority；
separates the clasped hands； pushes the bridegroom away； and cries
peremptorily to the driver to go on。 The cab starts； the deserted husband
drifts desolately anyhow down the street。 The clerk； who has seen it all；
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Miss or Mrs。？
goes back to the vestry and reports what has happened。
The rector （with his wife on his arm） has just dropped into the vestry
on business in passing。 He and the curate are talking about the strange
marriage。 The rector； gravely bent on ascertaining that no blame rests with
the church； interrogates； and is satisfied。 The rector's wife is not so easy to
deal with。 She has looked at the signatures in the book。 One of the names
is familiar to her。 She cross…examines the clerk as soon as her husband is
done with him。 When she hears of the coronet on the handkerchief she
points to the signature of 〃Louisa Winwood；〃 and says to the rector； 〃I
know who it is！ Lord Winwood's second wife。 I went to school with his
lordship's daughters by his first marriage。 We occasionally meet at the
Sacred Concerts （on the 'Ladies' Committee'）； I shall find an opportunity
of speaking to them。 One moment； Mr。 Jenkinson； I will write down the
names before you put away the book。 'Launcelot Linzie；' 'Natalie
Graybrooke。' Very pretty names； quite romantic。 I do delight in a romance。
Good…morning。〃
She gives the curate a parting smile； and the clerk a parting nod； and
sails out of the vestry。 Natalie； silently returning in Lady Winwood's
company to Muswell Hill； and Launce； cursing the law of Abduction as he
roams the streetslittle think that the ground is already mined under their
feet。 Richard Turlington may hear of it now； or may hear of it later。 The
discovery of the marriage depends entirely on a chance meeting between
the lord's daughters and the rector's wife。
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Miss or Mrs。？
SEVENTH SCENE。
The Evening Party。
MR。
TURLINGTON；
LADY WINWOOD At Home。
Wednesday； December 15th。Ten o'clock。
〃Dearest NatalieAs the brute insists； the brute must have the
invitation which I inclose。 Never mind； my child。 You and Launce are
coming to dinner； and I will see that you have your little private
opportunities of retirement afterward。 All I expect of you in return is；
_not_ to look （when you come back） as if your husband had been kissing
you。 You will certainly let out the secret of those stolen kisses； if you don't
take care。 At mamma's dinner yesterday； your color （when you came out of
the conservatory） was a sight to see。 Even your shoulders were red！ They
are charming shoulders； I know； and men take the strangest fancies
sometimes。 But； my dear； suppose you wear a chemisette next time； if you
haven't authority enough over him to prevent his doing it again！
〃Your affectionate LOUISA。〃
The private history of the days that had passed since the marriage
was written in that letter。 An additional chapterof some importance in its
bearing on the futurewas contributed by the progress of events at Lady
Winwood's party。
By previous arrangement with Natalie； the Graybrookes （invited to
dinner） arrived early。 Leaving her husband and her stepdaughters to
entertain Sir Joseph and Miss Lavinia； Lady Winwood took Natalie into
her own boudoir； which communicated by a curtained opening with the
drawing…room。
〃My dear； you are looking positively haggard this evening。 Has
anything happened？〃
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃I am nearly worn out； Louisa。 The life I am leading is so unendurable
that； if Launce pressed me； I believe I should consent to run away with
him when we leave your house tonight。〃
〃You will do