The poor soul sat singing by a sycamore tree,       Sing all a green willow¹;
Her hand on her bosom², her head on her knee,
      Sing willow, willow, willow;
Sing all a green willow must be my garland.
 
OLD SONG.
 
 
 
The fair Julia having nearly recovered from the effects of her hawking³ disaster, it begins to be thought high time to appoint a day for the wedding. As every domestic event in a venerable and aristocratic family connection like this is a matter of moment, the fixing upon this important day has, of course, given rise to much conference and debate.
 
Some slight difficulties and demurs⁶ have lately sprung up, originating in the peculiar⁷ humours that are prevalent at the Hall. Thus, I have overheard a very solemn consultation⁸ between Lady Lillycraft, the parson, and Master Simon, as to whether the marriage ought not to be postponed⁹ until the coming month.
 
With all the charms of the flowery month of May, there is, I find, an ancient prejudice against it as a marrying month. An old proverb says, "To wed⁴ in May, is to wed poverty." Now, as Lady Lillycraft is very much given to believe in lucky and unlucky times and seasons, and indeed is very superstitious¹⁰ on all points relating to the tender passion, this old proverb seems to have taken great hold upon her mind. She recollects¹¹ two or three instances in her own knowledge of matches that took place in this month, and proved very unfortunate. Indeed, an own cousin of hers, who married on a May-day, lost her husband by a fall from his horse, after they had lived happily together for twenty years.
 
The parson appeared to give great weight to her ladyship's objections, and acknowledged the existence of a prejudice of the kind, not merely confined to modern times, but prevalent likewise among the ancients. In confirmation¹² of this, he quoted a passage from Ovid, which had a great effect on Lady Lillycraft, being given in a language which she did not understand. Even Master Simon was staggered by it; for he listened with a puzzled air, and then, shaking his head, sagaciously observed that Ovid was certainly a very wise man.
 
From this sage¹³ conference I likewise gathered several other important pieces of information relative to weddings; such as that if two were celebrated¹⁴ in the same church on the same day, the first would be happy, the second unfortunate. If, on going to church, the bridal party should meet the funeral of a female, it was an omen⁵ that the bride would die first; if of a male, the bridegroom. If the newly-married couple were to dance together on their wedding-day, the wife would thenceforth rule the roast; with many other curious and unquestionable facts of the same nature, all which made me ponder more than ever upon the perils¹⁵ which surround this happy state, and the thoughtless ignorance of mortals as to the awful risks they run in entering upon it. I abstain¹⁶, however, from enlarging upon this topic, having no inclination¹⁷ to promote the increase of bachelors.
 
Notwithstanding the due weight which the squire¹⁸ gives to traditional saws and ancient opinions, yet I am happy to find that he makes a firm stand for the credit of this loving month, and brings to his aid a whole legion of poetical¹⁹ authorities; all which, I presume, have been conclusive²⁰ with the young couple, as I understand they are perfectly²¹ willing to marry in May, and abide²² the consequences. In a few days, therefore, the wedding is to take place, and the Hall is in a buzz of anticipation²³. The housekeeper²⁴ is bustling²⁵ about from morning till night, with a look full of business and importance, having a thousand arrangements to make, the squire intending to keep open house on the occasion; and as to the housemaids, you cannot look one of them in the face, but the rogue²⁶ begins to colour up and simper.
 
While, however, this leading love affair is going on with a tranquillity²⁷ quite inconsistent with the rules of romance, I cannot say that the under-plots are equally propitious²⁸. The "opening bud of love" between the general and Lady Lillycraft seems to have experienced some blight²⁹ in the course of this genial³⁰ season. I do not think the general has ever been able to retrieve³¹ the ground he lost when he fell asleep during the captain's story. Indeed, Master Simon thinks his case is completely desperate, her ladyship having determined³² that he is quite destitute³³ of sentiment.
 
The season has been equally unpropit............