They had had great difficulty in getting him into the one hackney coach which the village possessed, on account of his wish to ride with the driver, "a feller as he knowed;" but he was overruled by Mrs.Balfour, who, on alighting, took his arm.

He came up the garden walk, smiling in the faces and eyes of those gathered around the door and clustered at the windows.

In his wedding dress, he was the best figure in the crowd, and many were the exclamations of feminine admiration.
On entering the door, he looked about him, saw the well-dressed and expectant company, the dainty baskets of flowers, the bountifully loaded table in the little dining-room, all the preparations for his day of happiness, but he saw nowhere the person who gave to him the significance of the occasion.
Mr.Snow greeted him cordially, and introduced him to those who stood near.
"Well, parson, where's the little woman ?" he said, at last, in a voice so loud that all heard the startling question.

Miss Butterworth heard him, and laughed.
"Just hear him!" she exclaimed to the busy girl, whose work was now hurrying to a close.

"If he doesn't astonish them before he gets through, I shall be mistaken.