Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/101

Rh finished, the cry was to horse. The bride was led forth betwixt her brother Henry and her mother. Her gaiety of the preceding day had given rise to a deep shade of melancholy, which, however, did not misbecome an occasion so momentous. There was a light in her eyes, and a colour in her cheek, which had not been kindled for many a day, and which, joined to her great beauty, and the splendour of her dress and jewels, occasioned her entrance to be greeted with an universal murmur of applause, in which even the ladies could not refrain themselves from joining. While the cavalcade were getting to horse, Sir William Ashton, a man of peace and of form, censured his son Henry for having begirt himself with a military sword of preposterous length, belonging to his brother, Colonel Ashton.

"If you must have a sword," he said, "upon such a peaceful occasion, why did you not use the short weapon sent from Edinburgh on purpose?"