to an old bachelor companion:--

"They will make me to have care of the gentle weak ones, whether I
will or no."

"O, yes," replied his friend, who was somewhat disposed to be
satiric, "classically speaking, '_pulchra faciant te prole
parentum_.' Depend upon it this will be your initiation; you will
surely, upon attendance there, be caught by the smiling graces of
some pretty Venus--but, be careful; remember there is no escape when
once caught. Ah, my friend, I consider you quite gone. I shall soon
see in the morning daily--'Married, on the 12th, Hon. Frederic
Gorton, of M--, to Miss Isabella, Mary, or Ellen Somebody, and
then, be assured, my best friend, Fred, that I shall heave a sigh
_imo pectore_, not for myself only, but for you."

Some prophecies, jestfully uttered, are fulfilled--so were those of
Frederic's friend; and when they next met, only one was a bachelor.

But we will return to that bright morning when the bell had rung
merrily--when Ellen Lawton had returned from the village church to
her childhood home as Ellen Gorton, and was to leave it for a new
home. After entering the parlour, Mr. Gorton said,

"Now, Ellen, we will be ready to start in as few moments as
possible."

"Yes," answered Ellen, "but I wish to go over to Aunt Mary's, just
to bid her good-bye."