The well-to-do Farmer Lodge came nearly last; and his young wife, who accompanied him, walked up the aisle with the shyness natural to a modest woman who had appeared thus for the first time.

As all other eyes were fixed upon her, the youth's stare was not noticed now.
When he reached home his mother said, 'Well ?' before he had entered the room.
'She is not tall.

She is rather short,' he replied.
'Ah!' said his mother, with satisfaction.
'But she's very pretty--very.

In fact, she's lovely.' The youthful freshness of the yeoman's wife had evidently made an impression even on the somewhat hard nature of the boy.
'That's all I want to hear,' said his mother quickly.

'Now, spread the table-cloth.