212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

502 THE ADVENTURES OP PHILIP
bullion, and a pair of sugar-tongs. Mrs. Baynes, Philip's motherin-law,
sent him also a pair of sugar-tongs, of a light manufacture,
easily broken. He keeps a tong to the present day, and speaks
very satirically regarding that relic.
PHILIP'S INN OF COURT—A bill for commons and Inn taxes,
with the Treasurer's compliments.
And these, I think, formed the items of poor little Charlotte's
meagre trousseau. Before Cinderella went to the ball she was
almost as rich as our little maid. Charlotte's mother sent a grim
consent to the child's marriage, but declined herself to attend it.
She was ailing and poor. Her year's widowhood was just over.
She had her other children to look after. My impression is that
Mrs. Baynes thought she would be out of Philip's power so long
as she remained abroad, and that the General's savings would be
secure from him. So she delegated her authority to Philip's friends
in London, and sent her daughter a moderate wish for her happiness,
which may or may not have profited the young people.
" Well, my dear, you are rich, compared to what I was when
I married," little Mrs. Brandon said to her young friend. " You
will have a good husband. That is more than I had. You will
have good friends ; and I was almost alone for a time, until it
pleased God to befriend me." It was not without a feeling of awe
that we saw these young people commence that voyage of life on
which henceforth they were to journey together; and I am sure
that of the small company who accompanied them to the silent
little chapel where they were joined in marriage there was not one
who did not follow them with tender good wishes and heartfelt
prayers. They had a little purse provided for a month's holiday.
They had health, hope, good spirits, good friends. I have never
learned that life's trials were over after marriage ; only lucky is
he who has a loving companion to share them. As for the lady
with whom Charlotte had stayed before her marriage, she was in
a state of the most lachrymose sentimentality. She sat on the bed
in the chamber which the little maid had vacated. Her tears flowed
copiously. She knew not why, she could not tell how the girl had
wound herself round her maternal heart. And I think if Heaven
had decreed this young creature should be poor, it had sent her
many blessings and treasures in compensation.
Every respectable man and woman in London will, of course, pity
these young people, and reprobate the mad risk which they were
running, and yet, by the influence and example of a sentimental
wife probably, so madly sentimental have I become, that I own some
times I almost fancy these misguided wretches were to be envied.
A melancholy little chapel it is where they were married, and