CHAPTER XI.
HOW THE LAST DAY COMES, AND HOW SOME STRANGE WORDS ARE SAID BEFORE THE MARRIAGE IS ACCOMPLISHED; AND HOW MARION BETHUNE SCORES A POINT.
The dawn of the wedding-day has broken.

Everything has been hurried over as much as possible; with no unseemly haste--just in the most ordinary, kindly way--however.

But Lady Rylton's hand was at the helm, and she guided her barque to a safe anchor with all speed.

She had kept Tita with her--under her eye, as it were--until the final accomplishment should have taken place.
The wedding, she declared, should be from her house, from The Place, seeing that the poor darling child was motherless! She made herself all things to Tita in those days, although great anger stung her within.

She had been bitterly incensed by Maurice's avowal that Tita had declined to live with her at The Place, but she had been mightily pleased, for all that, in the thought that therefore The Place would be left to her without a division of authority.
Sir Maurice has gone to Rickfort to interview "Uncle George" of unpleasant fame.