The wedding was over so quickly that she scarcely realised it.There was the stuffy little church, very empty and dusty, with brass plates on the wall.She could hear, in the street, rumblings of carts and the rattle of wheels; somewhere a barrel-organ played.The clergyman was a little man who smiled upon her kindly.When Paul put the ring on her finger she started as though for a moment she awoke from a dream.She was glad that he looked so clean and tidy.Grace was wearing too grand a hat with black feathers.In the vestry Paul kissed her, and then they walked down the aisle together.She saw Katherine and Millie and Henry.Her fingers caught tightly about Paul's stout arm, but she would have been more at home she thought with Uncle Mathew just then.
It was a nice bright spring day, although the wind blew the dust about.They had a meal in Katherine's house and some one made a speech, and Maggie drank some champagne.She hoped she looked nice in her grey silk dress, and then caught sight of herself in a glass and thought she was as ever a fright.
"My little wild thing--mine now," whispered Paul.She thought that rather silly; she was not a wild thing, but simply Maggie Cardinal.
Oh, no! Maggie Trenchard...She did not feel Maggie Trenchard at all and she did not suppose that she ever would.
They were to have a fortnight alone at Skeaton before Grace came.
Maggie was glad of that.Paul was really nicer when Grace was not there.
They were all very kind to her.They had given her good presents--Millie some silver brushes, Henry some books, Philip a fan, and Katherine a most beautiful dressing-bag.Maggie had never had such things before.But she could have wished for something from her own people.She had written to Uncle Mathew but had not heard from him.
At the very last moment, on the morning of the wedding day, a present came from the aunts--an old box for handkerchiefs.The cover was inlaid with sea-shells and there was a little looking-glass inside.