Page:Romance & Reality 2.pdf/110

108 jury by the visitation of God. The borough he had represented was now vacant: it was his lordship's, and the seat was offered to Edward, and accepted. The grief into which Lady Alicia's death plunged Mr. Delawarr, made Lorraine's presence and assistance invaluable to one who had quite enough of business to justify his saying, "He had not a moment's time to himself;"—an assertion more pleasant than we are ready to admit. No thoroughly occupied man was ever yet very miserable. March arrived, and with it the period fixed for the marriage, which had been delayed, and was now to be private, on account of the recent loss. Lady Lauriston and her daughter had spent a quiet fortnight in London: people cannot be married without a clergyman—the milliner and the jeweller are equally indispensable. They returned to Stanbury Park, whose owner made his niece a present of a set of pearls and a cookery book; and at last the day came when the ceremony was to be performed in the chapel of Etheringhame Castle. From a delay on the road, almost impossible in these days—but rapid driving does sometimes accomplish impossibilities—Edward only arrived that very morning in time to accompany