lock or two of hayas fast as you can do it for me。'
The boy vanished under the archway； and the hostler followed at his
heels。 Meanwhile the carriage bearing Mr。 Mountclere and Sol was
speeding on its way to Enckworth。 When they reached the spot at
which the road forked into two； they left the Knollsea route； and
keeping thence under the hills for the distance of five or six
miles； drove into Lord Mountclere's park。 In ten minutes the house
was before them； framed in by dripping trees。
Mountclere jumped out； and entered without ceremony。 Sol； being
anxious to know if Lord Mountclere was there； ordered the coachman
to wait a few moments。 It was now nearly eight o'clock； and the
smoke which ascended from the newly…lit fires of the Court painted
soft blue tints upon the brown and golden leaves of lofty boughs
adjoining。
'O； Ethelberta！' said Sol； as he regarded the fair prospect。
The gravel of the drive had been washed clean and smooth by the
night's rain； but there were fresh wheelmarks other than their own
upon the track。 Yet the mansion seemed scarcely awake； and
stillness reigned everywhere around。
Not more than three or four minutes had passed when the door was
opened for Mountclere； and he came hastily from the doorsteps。
'I must go on with you；' he said； getting into the vehicle。 'He's
gone。'
'Whereto Knollsea？' said Sol。
'Yes；' said Mountclere。 'Now； go ahead to Knollsea！' he shouted to
the man。 'To think I should be fooled like this！ I had no idea
that he would be leaving so soon！ We might perhaps have been here
an hour earlier by hard striving。 But who was to dream that he
would arrange to leave it at such an unearthly time of the morning
at this dark season of the year？ Drivedrive！' he called again out
of the window； and the pace was increased。
'I have come two or three miles out of my way on account of you；'
said Sol sullenly。 'And all this time lost。 I don't see why you
wanted to come here at all。 I knew it would be a waste of time。'
'Damn it all； man；' said Mountclere； 'it is no use for you to be
angry with me！'
'I think it is； for 'tis you have brought me into this muddle；' said
Sol； in no sweeter tone。 'Ha； ha！ Upon my life I should be
inclined to laugh； if I were not so much inclined to do the other
thing； at Berta's trick of trying to make close family allies of
such a cantankerous pair as you and I！ So much of one mind as we
be； so alike in our ways of living； so close connected in our
callings and principles； so matched in manners and customs！ 'twould
be a thousand pities to part ushey； Mr。 Mountclere！'
Mountclere faintly laughed with the same hideous merriment at the
same idea； and then both remained in a withering silence； meant to
express the utter contempt of each for the other； both in family and
in person。 They passed the Lodge； and again swept into the
highroad。
'Drive on！' said Mountclere； putting his head again out of the
window； and shouting to the man。 'Drive like the devil！' he roared
again a few minutes afterwards； in fuming dissatisfaction with their
rate of progress。
'Baint I doing of it？' said the driver； turning angrily round。 'I
ain't going to ruin my governor's horses for strangers who won't pay
double for 'emnot I。 I am driving as fast as I can。 If other
folks get in the way with their traps I suppose I must drive round
'em； sir？'
There was a slight crash。
'There！' continued the coachman。 'That's what comes of my turning
round！'
Sol looked out on the other side； and found that the forewheel of
their carriage had become locked in the wheel of a dogcart they had
overtaken； the road here being very narrow。 Their coachman； who
knew he was to blame for this mishap； felt the advantage of taking
time by the forelock in a case of accusation； and began swearing at
his victim as if he were the sinner。 Sol jumped out； and looking up
at the occupants of the other conveyance； saw against the sky the
back elevation of his father and Christopher Julian； sitting upon a
little seat which they overhung； like two big puddings upon a small
dish。
'Fatherwhat； you going？' said Sol。 'Is it about Berta that you've
come？'
'Yes； I got your letter；' said Chickerel； 'and I felt I should like
to comethat I ought to come； to save her from what she'll regret。
Luckily； this gentleman； a stranger to me； has given me a lift from
Anglebury； or I must have hired。' He pointed to Christopher。
'But he's Mr。 Julian！' said Sol。
'You are Mrs。 Petherwin's father？I have travelled in your company
without knowing it！' exclaimed Christopher； feeling and looking both
astonished and puzzled。 At first； it had appeared to him that； in
direct antagonism to his own purpose； her friends were favouring
Ethelberta's wedding； but it was evidently otherwise。
'Yes； that's father；' said Sol。 'Father； this is Mr。 Julian。 Mr。
Julian； this gentleman here is Lord Mountclere's brotherand； to
cut the story short； we all wish to stop the wedding。'
'Then let us get on； in Heaven's name！' said Mountclere。 'You are
the lady's father？'
'I am；' said Chickerel。
'Then you had better come into this carriage。 We shall go faster
than the dogcart。 Now； driver； are the wheels right again？'
Chickerel hastily entered with Mountclere； Sol joined them； and they
sped on。 Christopher drove close in their rear； not quite certain
whether he did well in going further； now that there were plenty of
people to attend to the business； but anxious to see the end。 The
other three sat in silence； with their eyes upon their knees； though
the clouds were dispersing； and the morning grew bright。 In about
twenty minutes the square unembattled tower of Knollsea Church
appeared below them in the vale； its summit just touching the
distant line of sea upon sky。 The element by which they had been
victimized on the previous evening now smiled falsely to the low
morning sun。
They descended the road to the village at a little more mannerly
pace than that of the earlier journey； and saw the rays glance upon
the hands of the church clock； which marked five…and…twenty minutes
to nine。
45。 KNOLLSEA … THE ROAD THENCE … ENCKWORTH
All eyes were directed to the church…gate； as the travellers
descended the hill。 No wedding carriages were there； no favours； no
slatternly group of women brimming with interest； no aged pauper on
two sticks； who comes because he has nothing else to do till dying
time； no nameless female passing by on the other side with a laugh
of indifference； no ringers taking off their coats as they vanish up
a turret； no hobbledehoys on tiptoe outside the chancel windowsin
short； none whatever of the customary accessories of a country
wedding was anywhere visible。
'Thank God！' said Chickerel。
'Wait till you know he deserves it；' said Mountclere。
'Nothing's done yet between them。'
'It is not likely that anything is done at this time of day。 But I
have decided to go to the church first。 You will probably go to
your relative's house at once？'
Sol looked to his father for a reply。
'No； I too shall go to the church first； just to assure myself；'
said Chickerel。 'I shall then go on to Mrs Petherwin's。'
The carriage was stopped at the corner of a steep incline leading
down to the edifice。 Mountclere and Chickerel alighted and walked
on towards the gates； Sol remaining in his place。 Christopher was
some way off； descending the hill on foot； having halted to leave
his horse and trap at a small inn at the entrance to the village。
When Chickerel and Mountclere reached the churchyard gate they found
it slightly open。 The church…door beyond it was also open； but
nobody was near the spot。
'We have arrived not a minute too soon； however；' said Mountclere。
'Preparations have apparently begun。 It was to be an early wedding；
no doubt。'
Entering the building； they looked around； it was quite empty。
Chickerel turned towards the chancel； his eye being attracted by a
red kneeling…cushion； placed at about the middle of the altar…
railing； as if for early use。 Mountclere strode to the vestry；
somewhat at a loss how to proceed in his difficult task of
unearthing his brother； obtaining a private interview with him； and
then； by the introduction of Sol and Chickerel； causing a general
convulsion。
'Ha！ here's somebody；' he said； observing a man in the vestry。 He
advanced with the intention of asking where Lord Mountclere was to
be found。 Chickerel came forward in the same direction。
'Are you the parish clerk？' said Mountclere to the man； who was
dressed up in his best clothes。
'I hev the honour of that calling；' the man replied。
Two large books were lying before him on the vestry table； one of
them being open。 As the clerk spoke he looked slantingly on the
page； as a person might do to discover if some writing were dry。
Mountclere and Chickerel gazed on the same page。 The book was the
marriage…register。
'Too late！' said Chickerel。
There plainly enough stood the signatures of Lord Mountclere and
Ethelberta。 The viscount's was very black； and had not yet dried。
Her strokes were firm； and comparatively thick for a woman's； though
paled by juxtaposition with her husband's muddled characters。 In
the space for witnesses' names appeared in trembling lines as fine
as silk the autograph of Picotee； the second name being that of a
stranger； probably the clerk。
'Yes； yeswe are too late； it seems；' said Mountclere coolly。 'Who
could have thought they'd marry at eight！'
Chickerel stood like a man baked hard and dry。 Further than his
first two words he could say nothing。
'They must have set about it early； upon my soul；' Mountclere
continued。 'When did the wedding take place？' he asked of the clerk
sharply。
'It was over about five minutes before you came in；' replied that
luminary pleasantly； as he played at an invisible game of pitch…and…
toss with some half…sovereigns in his pocket。 'I received orders to
have the church ready at five minutes to eight this morning； though
I knew nothing about such a thing till bedtime last night。 It was
very private and plain； not that I should mind another such a one；
sir；' and