The man must be in his dotage! Mr.Walraven's antecedents were mysterious enough, in all conscience; but the antecedents of this wild ward of his were ten times more so.
But, in spite of all, the engagement was an accomplished fact.
Every day, beneath the baleful glare of angry female eyes, Mollie Dane went riding and driving and walking with the stately, white-haired old millionaire, who bent over her as obsequiously as though she were a duchess born.
The women might go wild with envy, the men go mad with jealousy; but the days and the weeks went on, and the fairy grew more radiantly beautiful with each.

And the wedding-day came, and the guests were bidden, and all was ready, on a scale of unparalleled magnificence.

And who was to know the wedding would never be?
Mollie's bridal night! The big brown-stone mansion was one blaze of light.

The ceremony was to take place in the lofty drawing-room, and be followed by a ball.

This somewhat obsolete way of doing things was by the express desire of Sir Roger, and on the morrow they were to start by steamer for the old land.