Our finest hope is finest memory;

And those who love in age think youth is happy,

Because it has a life to fill with love.

THE very next May, Felix and Esther were married. Every one in those days was married at the parish church, but Mr Lyon was not satisfied without an additional private solemnity, ‘wherein there was no bondage to questionable forms, so that he might have a more enlarged utterance of joy and supplication.’

It was a very simple wedding; but no wedding, even the gayest, ever raised so much interest and debate in Treby Magna. Even very great people, like Sir Maximus and his family, went to the church to look at this bride, who had renounced wealth and chosen to be the wife of a man who said he would always be poor.

Some few shook their heads; could not quite believe it; and thought there was ‘more behind’. But the majority of honest Trebians were affected somewhat in the same way as happy-looking Mr Wace was, who observed to his wife, as they walked from under the churchyard chestnuts, ‘It’s wonderful how things go through you — you don’t know how. I feel somehow as if I believed more in everything that’s good.’

Mrs Holt that day, said she felt herself to be receiving ‘some reward’, implying that justice certainly had much more in reserve. Little Job Tudge had an entirely new suit, of which he fingered every separate brass button in a way that threatened an arithmetical mania; and Mrs Holt had out her best tea-trays and put down her carpet again, with the satisfaction of thinking that there would no more be boys coming in all weathers with dirty shoes.

For Felix and Esther did not take up their abode in Treby Magna; and after a while Mr Lyon left the town too, and joined them where they dwelt. On his resignation the church in Malthouse Yard chose a successor to him whose doctrine was rather higher.

There were other departures from Treby. Mr Jermyn’s establishment was broken up, and he was understood to have gone to reside at a great distance: some said ‘abroad’ that large home of ruined reputations. Mr Johnson continued blond and sufficiently prosperous till he got grey............