Tales, Viz. Meredith, Strathern, Femme de Chambre, Marmaduke Herbert, Country Quarters (Volume 8)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850. Excerpt: ... other deep sigh escaped the breast of the speaker. Any husband with the means of giving her a decent home is better than being left a dependant on a brother', and worse, on a brother's wife, when her parents are dead. You have looked these contingencies in the face, Florence, I suspect? Yes, Kate, and the result is, I have accepted Sir Henry Travers. CHAPTER HI. The auspicious morning of the wedding was ushered in by the loud ringing of the bells of Ballymacross Chapel, and at ten o'clock the cortege, assembled to attend the ceremony, were marshalled in the library. The chapel was so near the castle that itwas decided that the bride and her company shouldwalk to it; and the procession really had an imposing effect as it proceeded from the portals of the castle across the lawn towards the sacred fane, where the hands of the contracting parties were to be joined. First appeared the female children of the charity'school, founded by Lady Fitzgerald and her daughters, dressed in white, and bearing baskets of flowers. Then came Sir Geoffrey, leading the bride elect, followed by Sir Henry Travers conducting Lady Fitzgerald, Colonel Maitland giving his arm to the Countess O'Neill; and the rest of the ladies, some twenty or thirty in number, were escorted by the officers and gentlemen of the neighbourhood. The flag of the ancient and time-honoured family of the Fitzgeralds, bearing their arms and device of Cromaboo, waved from the highest tower of the castle, and floated triumphantly towards the blue sky. The bride, in all the due paraphernalia of bridal state, enveloped in white satin and lace, with veil and orange flowers, pearls and diamonds, was said to look extremely lovely--a compliment de circonstance accorded to all brides on their wedding-day, how...