"Her mother always was a fool," said Uncle Edward irascibly. Here at least was a safe object upon which to vent his indignation! "The biggest fool that ever lived! What on earth men found to like in her I never could understand. Oh yes, I’ll give the girl away. If you’re so set on getting married at once, I’d better stop and see that it’s done properly. Lucy never did anything properly in her life."
"Thank you," said Jake. "You are most kind--and considerate."
"Mark you, that doesn’t mean that I approve," warned the old man. "It’s a hare-brained scheme altogether, but I suppose I owe it to my family to see that it’s done on the square."
Jake had suddenly become extremely suave. "That is very benevolent of you, sir," he said.
"I regard it as my duty," said Uncle Edward gruffly.
He had never been called benevolent before, and the term was not altogether to his liking. It seemed safer to accept it, however, without question. There was an unknown element about this young man that was in some fashion formidable. An odd respect mingled with his first contempt. The fellow might be a bounder,--he was not absolutely decided upon that head--but, as he himself had modestly stated, he had some points. By marrying him, his young niece was about to commit a very rash act, but it was possible--just possible--that it might not lead to utter disaster. It was not a marriage of which he could approve, but the man seemed solid, and certainly he himself had no urgent desire to take in the girl and her cripple brother. Altogether, though he did not like to think that his advice had been ignored, and though at the back of his mind there lurked a vague uneasiness not unmixed with self-reproach, it seemed that matters might have been considerably worse.
"Don’t you tyrannize over her now!" he said to Jake at parting. "You’ve got a fighting face, young fellow-my-lad. But you bear in mind, she’s a woman, and--unless I am much mistaken--she is not the sort to stand it."
"I don’t fight with women, sir," said Jake somewhat curtly. "I’ve other things to do."
Uncle Edward smiled a dry smile. "And you’ve a few things to learn--yet," he remarked enigmatically.
It was very dark and draughty in the church. Maud was shivering from head to foot. Her heart felt as if it were encased in ice. Now and then it beat a little, feebly, as if trying to break free, but the awful cold was too much for it. She did not know how to keep her teeth from chattering. Her hands lay in her lap, numbed and nerveless. She wondered if she would ever manage to walk as far as the dimly lit altar where Jake would be awaiting her.