The Golden Calf

lessly clean. This was all she could do in the way of costume in honour of this solemn day. She had not even a new pair of gloves. Mrs. Topman, who was to go to church with her in a fly fro

ttle green island round which the shining blue water twined itself li

od at her gate, watching for the fly, which was not due for

e you wants change. But I hope you and Mr. Wendover will come

'I hope I shall always remembe

ch clock struc

Topman, 'and Simmons's fly is not to

iage, when she came to the very threshold of Hymen's temple. Yesterday it had seemed to her tha

solemn vow that ever was vowed,' she thought, as she read the marriage

what I was doing. But I must say it's high time there was a change made in the service. It never can have been intended by Providence for all the obedience to be on the wife's side, or G

he was interested in the marriage bond, which seemed to her a very solemn le

orer, in sickness and in health, to lov

ich man for the sake of his wealth was to swear to be true to him in poverty. She who was marrying youth and good spirits was to swea

d Mrs. Topman and her charge took their places in that vehicle, and were jolted off at a jog-trot pace towards the town, and then

ock to the church, and Matins were only just

out of the dusky background - the daylight being tempered by small painted windows in heavy stone mullions - as Ida entered the churc

thou have this woman

Bessie's other cousin, the poor cousin! Ida had heard Bessie so distinguish him from the

e to think about this, when the sam

owed ceremonial, and Brian and Ida, glorified by a broad ray of morning sun

er in the snug little vestry, Mrs.

lford,' said Ida, looking over h

ss he has the misfortune to be Smith or Jones, and wants to b

hurchdoor. The fly was to take them straight to the

y luggage,' Brian said to

ng another dusty high road, still within sight of the river, till

of occasional rooks, and was sometimes surprised by the arrival of a train for which he had waited so long as to have become sceptical as to the existence of s

r husband presently, when they had discussed the characteristics of

ed to her transformed into another person by those fateful words

at a question! You proposed Dieppe for ou

train go to

osit us at Waterloo Station. The train for Newhaven leaves London Bridge at seve

, wonderingly. 'Have you

es

trange ma

strangeness. But here

of passengers about ten minutes ago, and the same t

ere alone, as it were within four walls, she summoned up courage to say something that had been on her mind for t

ere not like the beggar girl in the ballad, I should have a trousseau. But I don't know when I may get my box from Mauleverer, and when I do most of the things in it ar

nown that she had neither clothes nor money. He who had such large means had done nothing to sweeten her poverty. On this her wedding morning he had brought her no gift save the ring which the law prescribed. He had not brought her so much as a flower by way of greeting; yet she knew by the gossip of her schoo

then pour a shower of gold into her lap. But he did neither. He rattled some loose coins in his pocket, just as

can't look better than you do in that gray gown, and it looks to me just the right thing for travelling. And for any other little things you may want for the mom

ever pictured to herself in the airy visions of a splendid future - offered her, with a half-reluctant air, as if offering his life's blood, two sovereigns with which t

neophytes. She recalled the wonderful gifts which the bridegroom and the bridegroom's friends showered on the bride - the glorious gown and bonnet in which the

going to her father's house, where her step-mother would, perhaps, contrive to provide what was absolutely nece

It was not in a Wendover to be mean. And all that she had observed hitherto of Brian's way of acting an

at, I can manage very well till we get

ian, eagerly, dropping the sovereigns back int

ide and bridegroom till they came to Waterloo, nor even then, for there is not much opportunity for confidenti

ouses and up the uncarpeted stair to the third floor, where he ushered her into a room with two old-fashioned windows looking out upon grass, and trees, and old-fashioned bu

w quiet, how grave, how learned-looking! I don't wonder you like t

mething were choking him. He came to the wi

at huskily, 'I am going

e asked, turning a

does not be

ried, with wi

the other day, you know, that you did not value me upon account of the Abbey or my position as its owner. I hope tha

lied to me all this time - yo

hat flamed indignant fire, lips that

- who started the notion as a practical joke, just to see what you would think of me, believing me to be my cousin. And

arriage. No; it is not in Bes

ate marriage. I was to win your he

truth,' said Ida, looking

ooped upon

d sought by a man who stooped from such a high position to love me, who renounced the chance of a brilliant marriage to marry me, a penniless body! You knew

y own sake, and that you would forgive me for a stratagem which was prompted by my love fo

punish you for having kept the truth from me, I will tell you the truth - plainly. I have never cared one straw for you. I thought I did while I still believed you Brian Wendover of the Abbey. I was dazzled by your position; I was grateful in advance for all the good things that your wealth was to br

ng to take her hand; 'and we must b

he echoed, in

that was tied to-day can only be

ried me under

Brian Walford Wendover. There

you as my husband. I will never bear your name, or be anything to you but a stranger, except that I shal

repared for you to be disappointed - to be angry, even; but you are carrying matters a little too far. Even your natural dis

false light - glorified by attrib

but I am the same Brian Wendover, for all that - a briefless barrister, but with some tale

e. But if you were certain to be Lord Chancellor - if you could this moment prove yourself possessed of a splendid fortune - my

nt hands, urging every impassioned argument which young lips could frame; but to all such prayers she was marble. 'You are my wife,' he pleaded; 'you are my snared bird; y

the door; 'perhaps, had you been loyal and true, you might have taught me t

er won by houses and lands,'

n his arms, and held her against his passionately

his arms, with a shriek of horror; 'your kiss

er with a countenance in which the passionate l

to you - whose kisses are poison - so long as you thought he was rich. But directly you are told he is poor you inform him of your real sentiments with a delightful frankness. Supp

and loathe you. I have drained the cup of poverty to the dregs, and I languished for the elixir of wealth. When you asked me to mar

about it,' said

had been his complete code of morals and philosophy from earliest boyhood. He was not going to break his heart for any woman, were she the loveliest, the cleverest, the noblest that ever the gods endo

to Dieppe on less than four pounds. I have been living from hand to mouth ever since I left the university, picking up a few pounds now and then by literature, writing criticisms for a theatrical journal

d whom I loved and respected; but not with a m

Brian had thrown it as they entered

lled after her; 'let me know if

me, and he was looking down at her

e going straight

es

nd have some lunch? The t

tha

lling as his wife turned the corner of the lower land

a contemplative air. It was a pleasant room, arranged with rather a dandified air -

that would have been a bore,' he said to himself; and then he sank into a cha

mself, 'I knew she was in love with the Abbey; bu

much in earnest when she tore herself