SOMEOPINIONSANDAWEDDING
　　I，Bertram，takethee，Billy，’chantedthewhite-robedclergyman。
　　`I，Bertram，takethee，Billy，’’echoedthetallyoungbridegroom，hiseyesgravelytender。
　　Tomyweddedwife。’
　　`Tomyweddedwife。’’Thebridegroom’svoiceshookalittle。
　　Tohaveandtoholdfromthisdayforward。’
　　`Tohaveandtoholdfromthisdayforward。’’Nowtheyoungvoicerangwithtriumph。Ithadgrownstrongandsteady。
　　Forbetterforworse。’
　　`Forbetterforworse。’’
　　Forricherforpoorer，’dronedtheclergyman，withthewearinessofuncountedrepetitions。
　　`Forricherforpoorer，’’avowedthebridegroom，withthedecisiveemphasisofonetowhomthewordsarenewandsignificant。
　　Insicknessandinhealth。’
　　`Insicknessandinhealth。’’
　　Toloveandtocherish。’
　　`Toloveandtocherish。’’Theyoungervoicecarriedinfinitetendernessnow。
　　Tilldeathusdopart。’
　　`Tilldeathusdopart，’’repeatedthebridegroom’slips；buteverybodyknewthatwhathisheartsaidwas：Now，andthroughalleternity。’
　　AccordingtoGod’sholyordinance。’
　　`AccordingtoGod’sholyordinance。’’
　　AndtheretoIplighttheemytroth。’
　　`AndtheretoIplighttheemytroth。’’
　　Therewasafaintstirintheroom。Inonecornerawhite-hairedwomanblinkedtear-weteyesandpulledafleecywhiteshawlmorecloselyabouthershoulders。Thentheminister’svoicesoundedagain。
　　I，Billy，takethee，Bertram。’
　　`I，Billy，takethee，Bertram。’’
　　Thistimetheechoingvoicewasafeminineone，lowandsweet，butclearlydistinct，andvibrantwithjoyousconfidence，onthroughoneafteranotheroftheeverfamiliar，buteverimpressivephrasesoftheservicethatgivesintothehandsofonemanandofonewomanthefuturehappiness，eachoftheother。
　　Theweddingwasatnoon。ThateveningMrs。
　　KateHartwell，sisterofthebridegroom，wrotethefollowingletter：
　　BOSTON，July15th。
　　MYDEARHUSBAND：——Well，it’salloverwith，andthey’remarried。Icouldn’tdoonethingtopreventit。MuchaseverastheywouldevenlistentowhatIhadtosay——andwhentheyknewhowIhadhurriedEasttosayit，too，withonlytwohours’notice!
　　Butthen，whatcanyouexpect？Fromtimeimmemorialloversneverdidhaveanysense；
　　andwhenthoseloversaresuchirresponsibleflutterbudgetsasBillyandBertram——!
　　Andsuchawedding!Icouldn’tdoanythingwith_that_，either，thoughItriedhard。TheyhaditinBilly’sliving-roomatnoon，withnothingbutthesunforlight。Therewasnomaidofhonor，nobridesmaids，noweddingcake，noweddingveil，nopresentsexceptfromthefamily，andfromthatridiculousChinesecookofbrotherWilliam’s，DingDong，orwhateverhisnameis。Hetoreinjustbeforetheweddingceremony，andinsisteduponseeingBillytogiveherawretchedlittlegreenstoneidol，whichhedeclaredwouldbringher`heapplentyvellygoodluckee’ifshereceiveditbeforeshe`gotmarried。’Iwouldn’thavethehideous，grinningthingaround，butWilliamsaysit’srealjade，andveryvaluable，andofcourseBillywascrazyoverit——orpretendedtobe。Therewasnotrousseau，either，andnoreception。Therewasnoanythingbutthebridegroom；
　　andwhenItellyouthatBillyactuallydeclaredthatwasallshewanted，youwillunderstandhowabsurdlyinlovesheis——inspiteofallthoseweeksandweeksofbrokenengagementwhenI，atleast，supposedshehadcometohersenses，untilIgotthatcrazynotefromBertramaweekagosayingtheyweretobemarriedtoday。
　　Ican’tsaythatI’vegotanyreallysatisfactoryexplanationofthematter。Everythinghasbeeninsuchahubbub，andthosetworidiculouschildrenhavebeensoafraidtheywouldn’tbetogethereveryminutepossible，thatanyreallyrationalconversationwitheitherofthemwasoutofthequestion。WhenBillybroketheengagementlastspringnoneofusknewwhyshehaddoneit，asyouknow；andIfancyweshallbealmostasmuchinthedarkastowhyshehas——er——mendeditnow，asyoumightsay。AsnearasI
　　canmakeout，however，shethoughthedidn’twanther，andhethoughtshedidn’twanthim。I
　　believematterswerestillfurthercomplicatedbyagirlBertramwaspainting，andayoungfellowthatusedtosingwithBilly——aMr。Arkwright。
　　Anyhow，thingscametoaheadlastspring，BillybroketheengagementandfledtopartsunknownwithAuntHannah，leavingBertramhereinBostontoalternatebetweenstonydespairandrecklessgayety，accordingtoWilliam；anditwaswhilehewasinthelattermoodthathehadthatawfulautomobileaccidentandbrokehisarm——
　　andalmosthisneck。Hewaswildlydelirious，andcalledcontinuallyforBilly。
　　Well，itseemsBillydidn’tknowallthis；
　　butaweekagoshecamehome，andinsomewayfoundoutaboutit，IthinkthroughPete——William’soldbutler，youknow。JustexactlywhathappenedIcan’tsay，butIdoknowthatshedraggedpooroldAuntHannahdowntoBertram’satsomeunearthlyhour，andintherain；
　　andAuntHannahcouldn’tdoathingwithher。
　　AllBillywouldsay，was，`Bertramwantsme。’
　　AndAuntHannahtoldmethatifIcouldhaveseenBilly’sfaceI’dhaveknownthatshe’dhavegonetoBertramthenifhe’dbeenatthetopoftheHimalayaMountains，oratthebottomoftheChinaSea。Soperhapsit’sjustaswell——forAuntHannah’ssake，atleast——thathewasinnoworseplacethanonhisowncouchathome。
　　Anyhow，shewent，andinhalfanhourtheyblandlyinformedAuntHannahthattheyweregoingtobemarriedto-day。
　　AuntHannahsaidshetriedtostopthat，andgetthemtoputitofftillOctobertheoriginaldate，youknow，butBertramwasobdurate。
　　Andwhenhedeclaredhe’dmarryherthenextdayifitwasn’tforthenewlicenselaw，AuntHannahsaidshegaveupforfearhe’dgetaspecialdispensation，orgototheGovernororthePresident，ordosomeotherdreadfulthing。WhatafunnyoldsoulAuntHannahis!Bertramtold_me_thatheshouldneverfeelsafetillBillywasreallyhis；thatshe’dreadsomething，orhearsomething，orthinksomething，orgetaletterfrommeasifanything_I_couldsaywoulddoanygood-orharm!，andsobreaktheengagementagain。
　　Well，she’shisnow，soIsupposehe’ssatisfied；though，formypart，Ihaven’tchangedmymindatall。Istillsaythattheyarenotonebitsuitedtoeachother，andthatmatrimonywillsimplyruinhiscareer。Bertramneverhaslovedandneverwillloveanygirllong——excepttopaint。Butifhesimply_would_getmarried，whycouldn’thehavetakenanice，sensibledomesticgirlthatwouldhavekepthimfedandmended？
　　NotbutthatI’mveryfondofBilly，asyouknow，dear；butimagineBillyasawife——worseyet，amother!Billy’sadeargirl，butsheknowsaboutasmuchofreallifeanditsproblemsas——
　　asourlittleKate。Amoreimpulsive，irresponsible，regardless-of-consequencesyoungwomanI
　　neversaw。Shecanplaydivinely，andwritedelightfulsongs，I’llacknowledge；butwhatisthatwhenamanishungry，orhaslostabutton？
　　Billyhashadherownway，andhadeverythingshewantedforyearsnow——aratherdangerouspreparationformarriage，especiallymarriagetoafellowlikeBertramwhohashad_his_
　　ownwayandeverything_he’s_wantedforyears。
　　Pray，what’sgoingtohappenwhenthosewaysconflict，andneitheronegetsthethingwanted？
　　Andthinkofherignoranceofcooking——but，there!What’stheuse？They’remarriednow，anditcan’tbehelped。
　　Mercy，whataletterI’vewritten!ButI，hadtotalktosomeone；besides，I’dpromisedI
　　toletyouknowhowmattersstoodassoonasI
　　could。Asyousee，though，mytripEasthasbeenpracticallyuseless。Isawthewedding，tobesure，butIdidn’tpreventit，orevenpostponeit——thoughImeanttodooneortheother，elseIshouldneverhavemadethattiresomejourneyhalfacrossthecontinentattwohours’notice。
　　However，weshallseewhatweshallsee。Asforme，I’mdeadtired。Goodnight。
　　Affectionatelyyours，KATE。’
　　Quitenaturally，Mrs。KateHartwellwasnottheonlyonewhowasthinkingthateveningofthewedding。InthehomeofBertram’sbrotherCyril，Cyrilhimselfwasatthepiano，butwherehisthoughtswerewasplaintobeseen——orrather，heard；forfromunderhisfingerstherecametheLohengrinweddingmarchuntilalltheroomseemedfilledwiththescentoforangeblossoms，themistinessoffloatingveils，andtheechoingpealsoffar-awayorgansheraldingtheFairBrideandGroom。’
　　Overbythetableintheglowingcircleoftheshadedlamp，satMarie，Cyril’swife，adaintysewing-basketbyherside。Herhands，however，layidlyacrossthestockinginherlap。
　　Asthemusicceased，shedrewalongsigh。
　　Whataperfectlybeautifulweddingthatwas!shebreathed。
　　Cyrilwhirledaboutonthepianostool。
　　Itwasaverysensiblewedding，’hesaidwithemphasis。
　　Theylookedsohappy——bothofthem，’
　　wentonMarie，dreamily；so——sosortofaboveandbeyondeverythingaboutthem，asifnothingever，evercouldtroublethem——_now_。’
　　Cyrilliftedhiseyebrows。
　　Humph!Well，asIsaidbefore，itwasavery_sensible_wedding，’hedeclared。
　　ThistimeMarienoticedtheemphasis。Shelaughed，thoughhereyeslookedalittletroubled。
　　Iknow，dear，ofcourse，whatyoumean。_I_
　　thoughtourweddingwasbeautiful；butIwouldhavemadeitsimplerifI’drealizedintimehowyou——you——’
　　HowIabhorredpinkteasandpurplepageants，’hefinishedforher，withafrowningsmile。Oh，well，Istoodit——forthesakeofwhatitbroughtme。’Hisfaceshowednowonlythesmile；thefrownhadvanished。Foramanknownforyearstohisfriendsasahaterofwomenandallotherconfusion，’CyrilHenshawwaslookingremarkablywell-pleasedwithhimself。
　　Hiswifeoflessthanayearcoloredasshemethisgaze。Hurriedlyshepickedupherneedle。
　　Themanlaughedhappilyatherconfusion。
　　Whatareyoudoing？Isthatmystocking？’
　　hedemanded。
　　Alook，halfpain，halfreproach，crossedherface。
　　Why，Cyril，ofcoursenot!You——youtoldmenotto，longago。Yousaidmydarnsmade——
　　bunches。
　　Ho!ImeantIdidn’twantto_wear_them，’
　　retortedtheman，uponwhomthetragicwretchednessofthathalf-sobbedbunches’hadbeenquitelost。Ilovetoseeyou_mending_them，’
　　hefinished，withanapprovingglanceattheprettylittlepictureofdomesticitybeforehim。
　　ApeculiarexpressioncametoMarie’seyes。
　　Why，Cyril，youmeanyou_like_tohavememendthemjustfor——forthesakeofseeingmedoit，whenyou_know_youwon’teverwearthem？’
　　Sure!’noddedtheman，imperturbably。
　　Then，withasuddenlaugh，heasked：Iwondernow，doesBillylovetomendsocks？’
　　Mariesmiled，butshesighed，too，andshookherhead。
　　I’mafraidnot，Cyril。’
　　Norcook？’
　　Marielaughedoutrightthistime。ThevaguelytroubledlookhadfledfromhereyesOh，Billy’shelpedmebeateggsandbuttersometimes，butIneverknewhertocookathingorwanttocookathing，butonce；thenshespentnearlytwoweekstryingtolearntomakepuddings——foryou。’
　　For_me!_’
　　Mariepuckeredherlipsqueerly。
　　Well，Isupposedtheywereforyouatthetime。Atalleventsshewastryingtomakethemforsomeoneofyouboys；probablyitwasreallyforBertram，though。’
　　Humph!’gruntedCyril。Then，afteraminute，heobserved：IjudgeKatethinksBilly’llnevermakethem——foranybody。I’mafraidSisterKateisn’tpleased。’
　　Oh，butMrs。Hartwellwas——wasdisappointedinthewedding，’apologizedMarie，quickly。Youknowshewanteditputoffanyway，andshedidn’tlikesuchasimpleone。
　　Hm-m；asusualSisterKateforgotitwasn’therfuneral——Imean，herwedding，’retortedCyril，dryly。Kateisneverhappy，youknow，unlessshe’smanagingthings。’
　　Yes，Iknow，’noddedMarie，withafrowningsmileofrecollectionatcertainfeaturesofherownwedding。
　　Shedoesn’tapproveofBilly’stasteinguests，either，’remarkedCyril，afteramoment’ssilence。
　　Ithoughtherguestswerelovely，’spokeupMarie，inquickdefense。Ofcourse，mostofhersocialfriendsareaway——inJuly；butBillyisneverasocietygirl，youknow，inspiteofthewaySocietyisalwaystryingtolionizeherandBertram。’
　　Oh，ofcourseKateknowsthat；butshesaysitseemsasifBillyneedn’thavegoneoutandgatheredinthelameandthehaltandtheblind。’
　　Nonsense!’criedMarie，withunusualsharpnessforher。IsupposeshesaidthatjustbecauseofMrs。Greggory’sandTommyDunn’scrutches。’
　　Well，theydidn’tmakearealfestive-lookingweddingparty，youmustadmit，’laughedCyril；
　　whatwiththebridegroom’sownarminasling，too!Butwhoweretheyall，anyway？’