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glance wandered to the chancel with its stacks of flowers； to the
grave； business faces of the presiding priests； till the organ began
rolling out the wedding march。
〃They're off！〃 whispered young Dermant。
Shelton was conscious of a shiver running through the audience which
reminded him of a bullfight he had seen in Spain。 The bride came
slowly up the aisle。 〃Antonia will look like that；〃 he thought； 〃and
the church will be filled with people like this 。 。 。 。 She'll be
a show to them！〃 The bride was opposite him now； and by an instinct
of common chivalry he turned away his eyes； it seemed to him a shame
to look at that downcast head above the silver mystery of her perfect
raiment； the modest head full； doubtless； of devotion and pure
yearnings； the stately head where no such thought as 〃How am I
looking； this day of all days； before all London？〃 had ever entered；
the proud head； which no such fear as 〃How am I carrying it off？〃
could surely be besmirching。
He saw below the surface of this drama played before his eyes； and
set his face； as a man might who found himself assisting at a
sacrifice。 The words fell； unrelenting； on his ears： 〃For better；
for worse； for richer； for poorer； in sickness and in health〃 and
opening the Prayer Book he found the Marriage Service； which he had
not looked at since he was a boy； and as he read he had some very
curious sensations。
All this would soon be happening to himself！ He went on reading in a
kind of stupor； until aroused by his companion whispering； 〃No luck！〃
All around there rose a rustling of skirts； he saw a tall figure
mount the pulpit and stand motionless。 Massive and high…featured；
sunken of eye； he towered； in snowy cambric and a crimson stole；
above the blackness of his rostrum； it seemed he had been chosen for
his beauty。 Shelton was still gazing at the stitching of his gloves；
when once again the organ played the Wedding March。 All were
smiling； and a few were weeping； craning their heads towards the
bride。 〃Carnival of second…hand emotions！〃 thought Shelton； and he；
too； craned his head and brushed his hat。 Then； smirking at his
friends； he made his way towards the door。
In the Casserols' house he found himself at last going round the
presents with the eldest Casserol surviving； a tall girl in pale
violet； who had been chief bridesmaid。
〃Did n't it go off well； Mr。 Shelton？〃 she was saying
〃Oh； awfully！〃
〃I always think it's so awkward for the man waiting up there for the
bride to come。〃
〃Yes；〃 murmured Shelton。
〃Don't you think it's smart； the bridesmaids having no hats？〃
Shelton had not noticed this improvement； but he agreed。
〃That was my idea； I think it 's very chic。 They 've had fifteen
tea…sets…so dull； is n't it？〃
〃By Jove！〃 Shelton hastened to remark。
〃Oh； its fearfully useful to have a lot of things you don't want； of
course； you change them for those you do。〃
The whole of London seemed to have disgorged its shops into this
room； he looked at Miss Casserol's face； and was greatly struck by
the shrewd acquisitiveness of her small eyes。
〃Is that your future brother…in…law？〃 she asked； pointing to Bill
Dennant with a little movement of her chin； 〃I think he's such a
bright boy。 I want you both to come to dinner； and help to keep
things jolly。 It's so deadly after a wedding。〃
And Shelton said they would。
They adjourned to the hall now； to wait for the bride's departure。
Her face as she came down the stairs was impassive； gay； with a
furtive trouble in the eyes； and once more Shelton had the odd
sensation of having sinned against his manhood。 Jammed close to him
was her old nurse； whose puffy； yellow face was pouting with emotion；
while tears rolled from her eyes。 She was trying to say something；
but in the hubbub her farewell was lost。 There was a scamper to the
carriage； a flurry of rice and flowers； the shoe was flung against
the sharply drawn…up window。 Then Benjy's shaven face was seen a
moment； bland and steely； the footman folded his arms； and with a
solemn crunch the brougham wheels rolled away。 〃How splendidly it
went off！〃 said a voice on Shelton's right。 〃She looked a little
pale；〃 said a voice on Shelton's left。 He put his hand up to his
forehead； behind him the old nurse sniffed。
〃Dick；〃 said young Dennant in his ear； 〃this isn't good enough； I
vote we bolt。〃
Shelton assenting； they walked towards the Park； nor could he tell
whether the slight nausea he experienced was due to afternoon
champagne or to the ceremony that had gone so well。
〃What's up with you？〃 asked Dennant； 〃you look as glum as any
m…monkey。〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Shelton； 〃I was only thinking what humbugs we all
are！〃
Bill Dennant stopped in the middle of the crossing； and clapped his
future brother…in…law upon the shoulder。
〃Oh；〃 said he； 〃if you're going to talk shop； I 'm off。〃
CHAPTER IX
THE DINNER
The dinner at the Casserols' was given to those of the bride's
friends who had been conspicuous in the day's festivities。 Shelton
found himself between Miss Casserol and a lady undressed to much the
same degree。 Opposite sat a man with a single diamond stud； a white
waistcoat； black moustache； and hawk…like face。 This was； in fact；
one of those interesting houses occupied by people of the upper
middle class who have imbibed a taste for smart society。 Its
inhabitants； by nature acquisitive and cautious； economical；
tenacious； had learnt to worship the word 〃smart。〃 The result was a
kind of heavy froth； an air of thoroughly domestic vice。 In addition
to the conventionally fast； Shelton had met there one or two ladies；
who； having been divorced； or having yet to be； still maintained
their position in 〃society。〃 Divorced ladies who did not so maintain
their place were never to be found； for the Casserols had a great
respect for marriage。 He had also met there American ladies who were
〃too amusing〃never； of course； American men； Mesopotamians of the
financial or the racing type； and several of those gentlemen who had
been； or were about to be； engaged in a transaction which might or
again might not； 〃come off；〃 and in conduct of an order which might；
or again might not be spotted。 The line he knew； was always drawn at
those in any category who were actually found out； for the value of
these ladies and these gentlemen was not their claim to pitynothing
so sentimentalbut their 〃smartness；〃 clothes； jokes； racing tips；
their 〃bridge parties；〃 and their motors。
In sum； the house was one whose fundamental domesticity attracted and
sheltered those who were too 〃smart〃 to keep their heads for long
above the water。
His host； a grey； clean…shaven city man； with a long upper lip； was
trying to understand a lady the audacity of whose speech came ringing
down the table。 Shelton himself had given up the effort with h