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Im a en “ements tan ce ee
- WILD MARGARET, 123
Wouldn’t he? I say, he was right about the place, though,
wasn't he? It is dead and alive!” .
Margaret looked through the window. There were a
few scattered cottages, one solitary farm, and at a little
distance, half hidden amongst the trees, the old dilapi-
dated church, —
‘It is quiet,’ she said; ‘‘ but it is very pretty.”
“ Quiet’? and he laughed. ‘I'd no idea there were such
Spots near London. Austin must have had some trouble
In finding such an out-of-the-way place.’’
And he spoke truly. Mr. Ambrose had taken a great
deal of trouble, ;
The fly drove up to the church door, and Austin Am-
brose got down from the box.
~ You need not wait’? he said to the flyman; “we are
ere to take a stroll through the church. It looks inter-
esting,”? ~ .
The flyman pocketed his fare—the exact fare--and _con-
cluding that they were sight-seeing, drove sleepily off.
‘Come along;’’ said Austin Ambrose in a matter-of-fact
fashion, and they followed him. .
But the door was locked, and there was no sign of par-
Son, or clerk, or pew-opener.
Austin Ambrose bit his lip, then laughed.
. I know where the old fellow lives,” he said; ‘‘IT’ll rout
Im out.”’ ; a
He went to a little ivy-grown cottage just outside’ the
churchyard, and presently returned with the ancient clerk.
Mornin’, miss; mornin’, sir,”” he said, touching his
battered old beaver. ‘‘I begs ten thousand pardons, but
quite forgot as how there was a wedding this mornin’;
but I dessay’the parson have recollected. Howsomever,
Il open the church,’’ and he unlocked the door and signed
for them to enter. ;
Margaret tremblingly clung a little closer to Blair’s arm
an he murmured a few words of encouragement.
Hang it, Austin!” he said, aside; ‘it scarcely seems
48 if we were going to be married. It only wants a-
9 ¢
hearse—
Austin laughed. :
‘Nonsense. It is just what you want. They have for-
gotten you are to be married, and they’ll forget all about
it half an hour after it is over. Here is the parson; I did
us memory an injustice!”
The old “gentleman camé shuffling up the porch and
blinked at them over his spectacles.
Good-morning, Mr. Stanley,” he said.
Blair Stared, then, remembering that that was the name -
le had arranged to assume, returned the greeting,