All her five sisters acted as Barbara's bridesmaids, and many gathered in that church said they were the most beautiful bevy of maidens that ever had been seen.

But if so, Barbara outshone them all, perhaps because of her jewels and fine clothes and the radiance on her lovely face.
Anthony, who seemed to be quite well again, also looked extremely handsome, while Aunt Thompson, who by now had put off her mourning, shone in that dim church as the sun shines through a morning mist.
In short, all went as merrily as it should, save that the bride's mother seemed depressed and wept a little.
This, said her sister to someone in a loud voice, was in her opinion nothing short of wicked.

What business, she asked, has a woman with six portionless daughters to cry because one of them is making a good marriage; "though it is true," she added, dropping her voice to a confidential whisper, "that had Barbara chosen she might have made a better one.

Yes, I don't mind telling you that she might have been a peeress, instead of the wife of a mere country squire." In truth, Mrs.Walrond was ill at ease about this marriage, why she did not know.

Something in her heart seemed to tell her that her dear daughter's happiness would not be of long continuance.