October 16.—
The die is thrown,
my Cecilia, and thy Sidney is the wife of
Mr. Arnold! This day we were married;
the good Dean joined our hands, and his
daughter was one of my bride-maids.
The poor girl was taken ill during the ceremony,
and was obliged to leave the
church, which has confirmed me in my suspicions
—Oh, how I pity her! I believe
indeed she only feigned illness for an excuse
to retire. Mrs. Vere went out with
her; but she would not suffer her to attend
her home. She promised to dine
with us, if she should be better; and so
she did, and seemed chearful and pretty
well; but I thought she looked as if she
had been crying. She made my heart
ach—but I am in hopes it is but a slight
would; she is exceedingly lively, and I
dare say will soon get the better of it.
Lady Grimston was downright tiresome
with her compliments; and preached an
hour long about the duty of children to
their parents; and how good a wife that
woman was likely to make, who had always
been exemplary in her filial obedience.
Ah! lady Grimston, thought I,
by what I have heard of you, you did not
seem to number obedience among wife-like virtues in your own case, though you
can preach it up to others. But I knew
this sermon was chiefly intended for poor
Mrs. Vere's use. My mother was all
kindness and complacency. She seemed
so delighted, that I rejoiced in having
had it in my power to give her so much
happiness. Lady Grimston did the honours
of her house on this occasion with
great magnificence, and I believe I need
not tell you, with most exquisite decorum.
Indeed this wedding was conducted
with such a decent festivity, so rationally
on all sides, and such a comfortable
privacy, that I was not half so much
shocked as I expected to have been.
We have no company here besides the
family of the house, my dear good old
Dean, his lady and daughter, one young
lady more, and a relation of Mr. Arnold's;
a gentleman who came from London
on purpose to be present on this (as
it is called) joyful occasion.
We shall leave this house to-morrow,
Mr. Arnold and I, I mean. I am to be
put into possession of the old mansion of
Arnold-abbey. Mr mother is to continue
with lady Grimston a week or a fortnight
longer, and then she goes to London, on
no other call, as she says, but to see and
administer comfort to poor Miss B. who
she supposes will be by that time come to
her retreat.
I believe I shall remain in the country
while the weather continues pleasant, but
am not yet determined.
