far north. Instead of that, in six months or so, Janet wrote announcing
her engagement to the Honourable Stephen Vandeleur.

Of course I went south for Janet's wedding.

If I had thought she was being forced into this marriage (Duncan was
snob enough) I should not have gone a step, but should have done my best
to prevent it; but I could not think that from the tone of the letter;
and Paul wrote as well all about it. I could but think I had been
mistaken; that there had been no serious engagement between them, but
only a flirtation, as they might call it, or something of that sort: a
very reprehensible flirtation, with my Puritanical notions, it seemed to
me. I need not say I was greatly disappointed.

So in due course south I went.

Paul met me--handsomer and more dictatorial than ever; his blue eyes
clear and piercing as before. He seemed quite pleased; said Stephen
Vandeleur was a good fellow; was most impertinently sarcastic about
Duncan's aristocratic guests; and altogether appeared in good spirits.
Janet I did not think looking well. She seemed very nervous, and made
the remark that she wished it were six months ago; but of course it was
natural a girl should be a little hysterical on the eve of her
wedding-day.

The morrow came, and the wedding with it. I thought it a very
unpleasant one. Whatever might be Stephen Vandeleur's own feelings, he
seemed, as Paul said, a very good fellow. It was evident his friends
only countenanced it on consideration of the huge dowry Janet brought
with her. Some of them were gentlepeople, as I understand the word, and