Next, Toney motored to Waycott Hall and interviewed Maud, and then went home to early breakfast. Jim and the motor were to be kept busy.
The actual wedding was simple in the extreme. Only the Waycott Hall party, Miss Waycott, Mrs. Hamilton and Maud; and from Aldersfield, Sir Evas, Toney, the bridegroom, and Dr. Mayo. As the party entered he was already playing divine music, but the church was full of poor people and of white lilies. Never had the little old building looked so beautiful; Jeanie paused at the entrance.
"Oh! This is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen!" she whispered to Frank.
Mrs. Hamilton looked at Toney and then at her sister.
"Honoria, what extravagance, but how beautiful!"
"It's Toney all over," said Miss Honoria.
As to Frank Weston, he thought, "This is as it should be, no fuss, only poor people and flowers and heavenly music."
There were no jovial young men fussing and talking, no hustling, no disgraceful pushing, no whispered conversations. To the poor it was nearly as good as a funeral as they listened to Mr. Hales' strong manly voice, and saw his face full of mystic joy.
If Jeanie Hamilton had wanted any more reforming she had it then. How could pride exist in this sanctuary of beauty? She looked like a lily herself in a white afternoon dress, not a ball dress to be minutely described in the newspapers, Jeanie, belonging to one of the oldest families in the county, was marrying a self-made man, but as she looked up at his strong face, full of manly joy, she knew that she, not he, had the best of the bargain! She was only proud now of belonging to him.
Mrs. Hamilton was touched by the beauty and the originality. There was no vulgarity to hurt her pride, and she forgave Maud's first words in the vestry,
"Oh dearest Jeanie, you are a lucky woman. Toney, it was quite, quite perfect."
"You shall have the same, Maud, when you marry," answered Toney smiling.
Maud laughed and looked guilty. How pretty she appeared in her white dress, looking not unlike a bride herself.
The poor people remained seated till the pair came out together, but Toney stayed behind with a little army of helpers. All the lilies were to be tied in bunches, and each poor person in the church was to take home a bunch. Toney therefore missed seeing an uninvited guest at the church door, who shook hands cordially with the wedding party.