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of that spirit as any man I ever knew。〃
〃The name he gave his place is a good proof of that；〃 said Harry。 〃If he had called it the Colonnade； that would have been at least descriptive and appropriate； but he tacked on the Manor； which had neither rhyme nor reason to recommend it。〃
〃Was it not a Manor before the revolution？〃 inquired Mrs。 Creighton。
〃Oh； no； only a farm belonging to the Van Hornes。 But Taylor would not have it called a farm； for the world； he delights in big words；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。
〃That is only natural； I suppose； for 'Don Pompey；' as Mr。 Stryker calls him；〃 observed Mr。 Ellsworth。
The following morning was the happy occasion； which was to make Mrs。 George Wyllys the wife of Uncle Dozie。 In the course of the week； which intervened between her announcing the fact at Wyllys…Roof； and the wedding itself； she had only consulted her friends twice； and changed her mind as often。 At first it was settled that she was to be married at two o'clock； in church； with four witnesses present； and that from church she was to return quietly to her own house； where the party were to eat a family dinner with her。 A note； however； informed her friends that it was finally decided； that the wedding should take place early in the morning； at her own house； in the presence of some dozen friends。 The dinner was also postponed for a fortnight； as the happy couple intended to set out for Boston； the morning they were united。
The weather was propitious； and after an early breakfast the party from Wyllys…Roof set out。 It included Mr。 Ellsworth and Mrs。 Creighton； who were connexions of the bride； as well as Harry； and the family； Mary Van Alstyne remaining at home with Jane。
They soon reached Longbridge； after a pleasant； early drive。 On being ushered into Mrs。 Wyllys's drawing…room； they were received in a very informal manner by the bride herself。 As Elinor had recommended a grey silk for the wedding…dress； she was not at all surprised to find her aunt wearing a coloured muslin。 On one point； however； it was evident she had not changed her mind； for the happy man； Uncle Dozie； was there in full matrimonials； with a new wig； and a white waistcoat。 The groom elect looked much like a victim about to be sacrificed； he was as miserably sheepish and fidgety as ever old bachelor could be under similar circumstances。 Mrs。 Creighton paid her compliments to the bride very gracefully； and she tried to look as if the affair were not a particularly good joke。 Mr。 Wyllys summoned up a sort of resigned cheerfulness； Miss Agnes and Elinor also endeavoured to look as became wedding…guests。 The children； who had all received presents from the bridegroom； evidently thought the occasion a holiday。 The clergyman having appeared； Mrs。 Wyllys gave her hand to the trembling groom； and the important transaction was soon over。
'There is； at least； no danger of Uncle Dozie's taking a nap；' thought Harry； 'he looks too nervous and uncomfortable for that。'
Congratulations and good wishes were duly offered； they served only to increase the bridegroom's distress； while the bride appeared perfectly satisfied； and in very good spirits。 She felt disposed to make a cheerful sacrifice for the benefit of her children； to whom she had secured an efficient protector； while at the same time； she was now sure of a prudent friend and counsellor for life： so at least she informed Mrs。 Creighton。
〃I am sorry your brother is not here； Mr。 Hubbard。〃
〃He went to New York； on business； last night；〃 said the groom。
〃I hope you will have a pleasant trip to Boston；〃 continued Mr。 Wyllys。
〃Thank you for the wish； sir；〃 interposed the bride； 〃but we determined last evening to go to Niagara； as we have both been to Boston already。〃
'We shall hear of you at New Orleans； yet；' thought Harry。
Refreshments were brought in； and everybody； of course； received their usual share of the wedding…cake。
〃You see I have set you an excellent example；〃 said the bride to Mrs。 Creighton and Elinor。
〃We must hope that these ladies will soon follow it；〃 said Mr。 Ellsworth； with a glance at Elinor。
〃Shall we thank him； Miss Wyllys？〃 said Mrs。 Creighton。 〃It was kindly meant； I dare say。〃
Mr。 Wyllys； who was standing near them； smiled。
〃It was only yesterday； Elinor；〃 added the new Mrs。 Hubbard； 〃that Black Bess； who made the cake you are eating； told me when she brought it home； that she hoped soon to make your own wedding…cake。〃
〃She has had the promise of it ever since I was five years old；〃 said Elinor；
〃Is it possible that Black Bess is still living and baking？〃 said Harry。 〃I can remember her gingerbread； as long as I can recollect anything。 I once overheard some Longbridge ladies declare； that they could tell Black Bess's cake as far as they could see it； which struck me as something very wonderful。〃
〃She seems to be a person of great importance；〃 said Mrs。 Creighton； 〃I shall hope soon to make her acquaintance。 My dear Miss Elinor； I wish you would bear in mind that your wedding…cake has been ordered these dozen years。 I am afraid you forget how many of us are interested in it； as well as Black Bess。〃
〃Our notable housekeepers you know； tell us that wedding…cake will bear keeping half…a…century；〃 said Elinor； smiling。
〃That is after the ceremony I am sure； not before；〃 said Mrs。 Creighton。
Elinor seemed at last annoyed by these persevering allusions； and several persons left the group。 Hazlehurst took a seat by Miss Patsey； he was anxious to show her that her brother…in…law's behaviour； had in no manner changed his regard for herself and her family。
〃Where is Charlie；〃 he asked。
〃He has gone off to Lake Champlain now。 I hope you and Charlie will both soon get tired of travelling about； Mr。 Hazlehurst； you ought to stay at home with your friends。〃
〃But I don't seem to have any home； Charlie and I are both by nature； home…bred； home…staying youths； but we seem fated to wander about。 How is he coming on with his pictures？has he nearly done his work on the lakes？〃
〃Yes； I believe so； he has promised to come to Longbridge next month； for the rest of the summer。 He has been distressed； quite as much as the rest of us； Mr。 Hazlehurst； by these difficulties〃
〃Do not speak of them； Miss Patsey； it is a bad business； but one which will never interfere between me and my old friends； I trust。〃
Miss Patsey looked her thanks； her mortification； and her sympathy； but said nothing more。
The carriage which was to convey the bride and groom to the steamboat； soon drove to the door； and taking leave of their friends； the happy couple set off。 They turned back； however； before they were out of sight； as Mrs。 Hubbard wished to change the travelling…shawl she had first selected for another。 Mr。 Wyllys； Elinor； and Harry accompanied them to the boat； and they all three agreed； that the groom had not yet been guilty of napping； although Hazlehurst declared； that as the seats on deck were cool and shady； he had little doubt that he would be dozing before the boat was out of sight。
Those who feel the same anxiety for the welfare of the children； during their mother's absence； which weighed upon the mind of Miss Agnes； will be glad to hear that they were all three carried to Wyllys…Roof； under the charge of an experienced nurse。 And it must be confessed； that it was long since little George； a riotous child； some seven years old； had been kept under such steady； but kind discipline； as that under which he lived； during this visit to his grandfather。
Mr。 Ellsworth and Harry passed the morning at Longbridge； engaged with their legal affairs； and in the evening Hazlehurst left Wyllys…Roof for Philadelphia； and Mrs。 Stanley accompanied him； on her way to Greatwood。
CHAPTER XV。 ｛XXXVIII｝
〃… But by the stealth Of our own vanity； we're left so poor。〃 HABINGTON。
｛William Habington （English poet and dramatist； 1605…1664）； 〃Castara〃 I。20…21｝
Now that Harry had left the house； Mrs。 Creighton's attention was chiefly given to Mr。 Wyllys； although she had as usual； smiles； both arch and sweet； sayings； both piquant and agreeable； for each and all of the gentlemen from Broadlawn； who were frequent visiters at Wyllys…Roof。 Mr。 Stryk