Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/311

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
LADY ANNE GRANARD.
309

had become handsomer than he had ever been before.

Many noble families, resident in Kent for the summer, many old families, attached to it as the land of their fathers, came, from far and near, to witness these interesting nuptials; and never had the village church been so crowded, by the great and the gay, as at this double union, which wanted not the crowning honour of being administered by a bishop, two of whose fair daughters, with those of a neighbouring nobleman, officiated as bridesmaids. The good old baronet gave Helen to her bridegroom, and Mr. Glentworth performed the same office for Georgiana, who, on this day, again received the ring, which tied her, in a double sense, for better and worse, to the family she entered, as it was agreed, that she should know no other home during the life of the present possessor. On their return from church, when Sir Edward had taken possession of his great chair, each bridegroom, leading up his bride, knelt before the venerable grandsire, and received his blessing, as he had himself received such benediction; but at this moment, his remembrance of the past was but too vivid, and he was affected even to tears; perhaps the mar-