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Dr。 Amboyne stared； and stepped aside into an open pew to let them pass。
They swept by； he looked after them； and remained glued to his seat till the church was clear of the procession。
He went into the vestry； and found the curate there。
〃Are that couple really married； sir？〃 said he。
The curate looked amazed。 〃As fast as I can make them；〃 said he； rather flippantly。
〃Excuse me；〃 said the doctor； faintly。 〃It was a foolish question to ask。〃
〃I think I have the honor of speaking to Dr。 Amboyne？〃
Dr。 Amboyne bowed mechanically。
〃You will be at the wedding…breakfast； of course？〃
〃Humph！〃
〃Why； surely； you are invited？〃
〃Yes〃 （with an equally absent air）。
Finding him thus confused； the sprightly curate laughed and bade him good…morning； jumped into a hansom； and away to Woodbine Villa。
Dr。 Amboyne followed him slowly。
〃Drive me to Woodbine Villa。 There's no hurry now。〃
On the way； he turned the matter calmly over； and put this question to himself： Suppose he had reached the villa in time to tell Grace Carden the news！ Certainly he would have disturbed the wedding； but would it have been put off any the more？ The bride's friends and advisers would have replied； 〃But that is no positive proof that he is alive； and； if he is alive； he has clearly abandoned her。 Not a line for all these months。〃
This view of the matter appeared to him unanswerable； and reconciled him； in a great degree； to what seemed inevitable。
He uttered one deep sigh of regret； and proceeded now to read his letters； for he was not likely to have another opportunity for an hour or two at least； since he must be at the wedding breakfast。 His absence would afflict the bride。
The third letter he took out of his breast…pocket bore an American postmark。 At the first word of it he uttered an ejaculation； and his eye darted to the signature。
Then he gave a roar of delight。 It was signed 〃Henry Little；〃 and the date only twelve days old。
His first thought was the poor lady who； at this moment； lay on a sofa in his house； a prey to doubts and fears he could now cure in a moment。
But no sooner had he cast his eyes over the contents； than his very flesh began to creep with dire misgivings and suspicions。
To these succeeded the gravest doubts as to the course he ought to pursue at Woodbine Villa。
He felt pretty sure that Grace Carden had been entrapped into marrying a villain； and his first impulse was to denounce the bridegroom before the assembled guests。
But his cooler judgment warned him against acting in hot blood； and suggested it would be better to try and tell her privately。
And then he asked himself what would be the consequence of telling her。
She was a lady of great spirit； fire； and nobility。 She would never live with this husband of hers。
And then came the question； What would be her life？
She might be maid； wife； and widow all her days。
Horrible as it was； he began almost to fear her one miserable chance of happiness might lie in ignorance。
But then how long could she be in ignorance？
Little was coming home； he would certainly speak out。
Dr。 Amboyne was more tormented with doubts than a man of inferior intellect would have been。 His was an academic mind； accustomed to look at every side of a question； and； when he reached Woodbine Villa； he was almost distracted with doubt and perplexity。 However； there was one person from whom the news must not be kept a moment。 He took an envelope out of his pocket…book； and sent the cabman to Mrs。 Little with this line：
〃Thank God； I have a letter from Henry Little by this day's post。 He is well。 Wait an hour or two for me。 I can not leave Woodbine Villa at present。〃
He sent this off by his cabman； and went into the breakfast…room in a state of mind easier to imagine than to describe。
The party were all seated； and his the only vacant place。
It was like a hundred other weddings at which he had been； and； seeing the bride and bridegroom seated together as usual； and the pretty bridemaids tittering； as usual； and the gentle dullness lighted up with here and there a feeble jest； as usual； he could hardly realize that horrible things lay beneath the surface of all this snowy bride…cake； and flowers； and white veils； and weak jocoseness。
He stared； bowed； and sunk into his place like a man in a dream。
Bridemaids became magnetically conscious that an incongruous element had entered； so they tittered。 At what does sweet silly seventeen not titter？
Knives and forks clattered； champagne popped； and Dr。 Amboyne was more perplexed and miserable than he had ever been。 He had never encountered a more hopeless situation。
Presently Lally came and touched the bridegroom。 He apologized； and left the room a moment。
Lally then told him to be on his guard； for the fat doctor knew something。 He had come tearing up in a fly； and had been dreadfully put out when he found Miss Carden was gone to the church。
〃Well； but he might merely wish to accompany her to the church： he is an old friend。〃
Lally shook his head and said there was much more in it than that； he could tell by the man's eye； and his uneasy way。 〃Master； dear； get out of this； for heaven's sake； as fast as ye can。〃
〃You are right； go and order the carriage round； as soon as the horses can be put to。〃
Coventry then went hastily back to the bridal guests； and Lally ran to the neighboring inn which furnished the four post…horses。
Coventry had hardly settled down in his chair before he cast a keen but furtive glance at Dr。 Amboyne's face。
Then he saw directly that the doctor's mind was working； and that he was secretly and profoundly agitated。
But； after all； he thought； what could the man know？ And if he had known any thing； would he have kept it to himself？
Still he judged it prudent to propitiate Dr。 Amboyne； so； when the time came for the usual folly of drinking healths； he leaned over to him； and； in the sweetest possible voice； asked him if he would do them both the honor to propose the bride's health。
At this unexpected call from Mr。 Coventry； Dr。 Amboyne stared in the bridegroom's face。 He stared at him so that other people began to stare。 Recovering himself a little； he rose mechanically； and surprised every body who knew him。
Instead of the easy gayety natural to himself and proper to the occasion； he delivered a few faltering words of affection for the bride； then suddenly stopped； and； after a pause； said； 〃But some younger man must foretell her the bright career she deserves。 I am unfit。 We don't know what an hour may bring forth。〃 With this he sunk into his chair。
An uneasy grin； and then a gloom； fell on the bright company at these strange words； and all looked at one another uncomfortably。
But this situation was unexpectedly relieved。 The young curate rose； and said； 〃I accept the honor Dr。 Amboyne is generous enough to transfer to the younger gentlemen of the partyaccept it with pride。〃
Starting from this exordium； he pronounced； with easy volubility； a charming panegyric on the bride； congratulated her friends； and then congratulated himself on being the instrument to unite her in holy w