THE ACTOR AND ACTRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 272, 16 November 1910, Page 11

THE ACTOR AND ACTRESS.

BY M. S. GRAY.

CHAPTER XL rr do solemnly declare that 1 know /f aav just cause or impediment why should not be •'■ dia matrimony to .loan Marchant." 'tte w o^B ' SP OI1 ™ in Basil ' s wcll - -jij e( r -well-niodulated voice, could be Sctly in every corner of the •i 4! i-iaTwl in contrast with the shy, SteriSfftoMS of the little bride. lie minister, a quiet-vcnced, worn-look- , prematurely aged by ten years f land-to-hand fighting with poverty 4 vice in West End slums—thought he Lα never seen a more strangely-assorted Z,nessiion than the little gathering Sβ Mm this moroin -- His life had frLdlim to be an observer of men a,ld S5 and he was quick to notice the. faces before him. Some of those 1 ihe had certainly never expected {fase-inside Ws church. The bride"Lja'B name and fare were well known fhim as'they were bound to be to any IHoenisant of the hoardings of LonU™ to say nothing of its picture postMs Bnt that ° ne ° f the greatest f*,B on. tie English stage should single obscure and unfashionable little church for the performance of his imaoe ceremony puzzled the good man jotaKttte. The contrasts in the wedL, mests puzzled him still more. Aunt 2±ell -wbo- had clcefcea to come to her Scek-i-vrodding in/a twice-turned bla-ck tilt to 3B an< * the neatest and P'ainest of bonnets, sat beside Norah, in her blue velvet and costly sables; while Becky AfcChesney, in a "creation" (it was utterly inadequate to call it merely a coejuje) of cream taffetas, and a huge picture ia.t with plumes touching hef shoulders, shared a muolitfimhassock with Miss Sfcorrs, who had made iihe village dressmaker's life a iurfen t< , her over tlie cut aßcl iinisiL of a iiowh cashmere gown set off by seme old ia&fd'-'prized possession of Miss Storrs', and''one-which put even Becky's finery iath<>shade. Then, too, there was Basil's jjsto, tfxs. Lorrimer, her hand3ome face ,'KJtonishing'v lik e ' lcr brother's, bub '•0i a coldness in her blue eyes which ms absent from Basil's) expressive of ist disapproval of this terribly unfashioiaUe function—if not of the equally unfashionable bride. Finally, there was Ms. Budd, her rubicund countenance set oJ by » magenta bonnet, a fat smelling bottle- djuqjed in one hand, and a handkenlief in the other, both of which were intended to assist her if the tender nature of her master's wedding proved too much for ier sensibilities. The men,- of course, did not present eueh a contrast, but there was a very discernible difference between Uncle Mitchell (who stood beside the bride, and gavo heir away), in his well-brushed ) but somewhat shabby, frock coat ; and George and Freddy, who had both done credit (m more senses than one, Freddy's coat teing still .unpaid for) to their Bondetreet tailor, and looked as much like (walking advertisements of the sartorial art as it is possible far two healthy and :go<xblooking young Englishmen to look. ia his icay, was .etjuaUjcimaacnlaie, .having for many years copied his master's style as nmch as possible. ; Joan, in her pretty" grey frock and. dainty toque, was as sweet a little bride as any man could desrre, and Basil's heart Mac very tender towards her as he and she repeated the terribly solemn vows. If le. winced as ho said them, he was too good an actor to show it, and only one of tie congregation would have guessed thatie found them difficult to make. In a stuffy little vestry, smelling strongly of parchments and musty feather (the church was an old one, and rich in records of the past), the little bride aigned herseli as " Joan Marehant " for the last fckne, and, as she finished, she toned and flung her arms round Norah's ledc, faming to her instinctively, as she iad. -turned to her through all the weeks cf preparation. There were tears in Sorah's eyes as she kissed the girl. It seemed to her that, ty ti«> act, Joan liuwi appealed to ier to help, her in the new and difficult iTOy on which she was enteripg, and, as tfiey kissed cadi other, Norah vowed Qleniry new to fail Basil's -wife. She, harried off a moment later, an "Hupany with Aunt Mitchell, to be in, radmeas when the bride and bridegroom ehonld arrive at Gordon Mansions. She found; Aunt Mtchell dn a tearful state, wmpoanded of dismal retrospect and jmsiinis foreboding. don't know, I am sure," she said, eg they flew along, and the swif-t motion el the car made her words come somewhat breathlessly, "marriage ii a lottery, Miss'Beverley, even in the best of cases; Md, itt_ifchjs case, Joan, ds going among such utterly different surroundings and $eopte— f- ' She stopped, embarrassed, remembering that lex companion was one of the jieople" in question. But Norah's symprf&etio face (reassured her. %'.quite understand your anxiety, afcs. Mitchell," she said, gently, "-but 1 w> not think you need have any fear. Hate -known 3klr. Akerman many years, and I am sure he will make a good husjwii.to your Diece. And the rest of us **« got so fond of dear little Joan ™» I am sure we will do all in our J°wei to make her happy." She ended with a laugh, and if re. Mwehd], reassured, launched out into <i *scxiptkm of the happy day when she *ai taken Uncle Mitchell "for better, for Tfoise," which -was not finished when thu «r drew up before the huge red block of ftmldings -where Nom-li'e flat was situ-"*™»'-But ilrs. Mitchell was only too vahng to leave her narrative unfinished, : tt her joy at being once more on terra ™naj as a ] le W;l3 stiJl a novice - m regar[ i Jβ motors, and dicr sensations during had .been anything but comfortthat followed was a strange ™ c . and such as had never passed in «oraa3 drawing-room before. They .°*>* x the health of the happy pair in for which was substituted »L r ff 50 of Almt ilud Unelß Mitchell, «m «f the bride herself, lemonade, which ■norah ihad provided, in deferens to the wmperance principles of her friends. Xo .wnjo had been too small, as no self-re-l7fu U , feld been to ° S 1^11 ' for aer to «Wtttake in order to make Joan happy. the bour-a trying one' m the vuT ays—3lle was tha inspiration of ™ c uttle company—teasing Joan, talking ivith Uncle MitcheU, di=° housewifery with Aunt MitcheU, , weighing the claims of Sevres versus TviLh Miss Storrs. Becky, who 'fea^ ged ia a ' violenfc flirtation with «wy (on whose volatUe mind the tafnot failed to make effect), IMW ff dalisatioll of Aunt Mitchell, wsed at her fciead witll wonderi Norah wag lIM eJI «wan which marked the ihigh-water

mark of appreciation in Becky's vocabulary. George, who was undoubtedly serious on this occasion, and had listened to the service with grave attention, talked mostly to the bride and ibridegroom. While- much puzzled over Basil's choice, he shared Xorah's liking for Joan, and was on very friendly terms ■with her by this time. Freddy, on the contrary, found the little country girl rather tedious, and had declared to George, in the privacy of their bachelor quarters, tha-t '"there -wasn't a flirt in her anywhere." In a gathering in which were so many incongruous elements, a surprise of some kind was not unlooked for; ibut it is questionable if some of those present had ever been more surprised in their lives than they were bha-t afternoon. And. the cause of" it was Uncle Mitchell, the person who seemed of least account among them—a quiet, unassuming man, harassed with the cares of a email farm and tile constant struggle to support his wife and five children; a man who looked as if he had no hope in this life, as indeed lie had not much. But he had a stock of moral courage which might have been the envy of many men. Insignificant, shabby, utterly out of his element among these smart, merry people, he found courage to s-ay, as the time of the bride's departure drew near: "There is one thing I should like, ■before wo say good-bye to the bride and bridegroom. It 13 a thing which I know Mr. Marehant would have wished above all others, if he had been here; and that ds, to recommend this newly-made husband and wife to the blesseing and care of God. Let us pray." There was one brief, embarrassed moment, as the little man knelt down and shaded his eyes with his hand. Even Aunt Mitchell looked nncomiortable, and Joan glanced anxiously at her husband. Freddy and George looked steadily at nothing, and Becky repressed a hysterical desire to giggle. Then, with a -swift movement and a rustic of silk and velvet, Xora.li was on her knees 'beside the soia, her face buried in her hands. Her action was the signal for the others to follow; and, amid perfect stillness, Uncle Mitchell prayed for Basil and Joan. Most of those present when they went to church at all, had heard only the noble forms of prayer of the Soman or Anglican communions; and, to them, the more personal method of address, which is the heritage of Nonconformity, came as a surprise. The speaker prayed at length, his words gaining eloquence as he went on, it was evident that, however diffident in the •presence of men, he was "at home" in speaking , with God. It came as a revelation to his hearers, and seemed to' make the Divine Being a more real presence' than He had ever been before. As they rose from their knees, Freddy ostentatiously dusted the knees of his immaculate trousers with a spotless pocket handkerchief. Ho looked at Becky, but she had- crossed over to Joan, and was speaking animatedly. They were too well-bred to show much enibar- - rnsamrait, but ilioy *'?*Tt?.''" 1 3! L. J- .'■ Nevertheless, they all felt respect for this insignificant little man. They realised just a little of the ordeal it had been to him to do what he had done.". It was a relief to all, however, when the maid appeared at the door, to say that .Mr. Akerman's car was waiting below. Norah herself wrapped the ■bride in- the big fur-lined motor coat and kissed her many times. "It will seem a long time till Monday, Joan, , ' she said, as the girl dung to her. "Take care of her, Basil." "T wall. Good-<bye, Norah." The words were said seriously, a3 it he were making a promise, in answer to her request, as indeed he -was. He looked into her face for a. moment, then turned, with, a laugh to his wife." "■Come, Mrs. Akerman," he said", and all present smiled at Joan's sudden rush of colour, at the souud of the now, unfamiliar title. "Well," Becky said, half an hour later, "I guess I'm glad it's over." She was standing before the fire, talking with George and Freddy. Miss Sfcorrs had gone to her room, and Norah •had escorted Aunt and Uncle Mitchell to the lift, so the three young people weTe alone for the moment. "What I feel is," iFreddy remarked, a propos of Beck's statement, "that, having seen these two good people safely married, and sent them off with my ■paternal *blessing, I am free -to inquire, what price wedded .bliss hereafter?" "Oh, I think they will be happy." George said, so hastily as to almost ibelde his words. "Joan is a nice little thing, and we all know old Basil's a good sort." "•We've got to see that 'they' are happy," Becky said, decisively. "I know that's the way Norah feels about it." '"What can we do?" Freddy looked curious. "I have no recipe for keeping ■matrimonial peace that I know of. What have you got up that pretty Sleeve of youra, Becky?" "It ie real pretty, isn't it?" Becky remarked, apropos of the sleeve. "I'll tell you," she went on, more seriously. "You boys have got to .help in this thing, so it's right you should be prepared." "Suppose you sit down, while you coach us," George said, drawing forward an armchair, and arranging a pile of comfortable cushions for Beck's benefit. "Thanks. Now sit down, both of you. I want to talk to you before Norah 1 comes back. I know it'll take Mrs. Mitchell at least another ten minutes to say good-bye. Well, then, listen. Basil, whom we all like, and who is our good chum, has married a girl wham we all like, but who is something quite new in our set. Granted?" "Granted," said both her hearers. "Well, then, this marriage has every promise of being a big failure! Not because they aren't fond of each other, and not because they aren't nice and decent people, but because they are as different and as far apart as the poles in their upbringing and ways and so on." "True, oil, Daniel," Freddy said, a3 sh-e looked at him. George, wha wae listening with a grave face, merely nodded. Thus encouraged', Becky went on; "Norah and I both see that, if we (1 mean all four of us) don't help, ■things won't go smoothly. It sounds xnightv conceited, I know, and vurry likely" Basil wouldn't thank us if he knew; but it's straight truth, all the same. It's all right now, but what about when Mre. Basil comes back, and ' takes her rightful place as Basil's wife? She is a real good little girl, but she's been brought up in a groove as narrow as na-i-row as can be —something like our New England folks out yonder. Things : aren't going to be easy for hfiT. She's J soft and eweet now, because she's so.

taken op -with Basil marrying , , her that she don't seem to have time to think ■of anything else. But shell bare lots of time after., .And sheTl make, kxts of mistakes. Now, -what -we've got to do (you bova, just as much as JJaraih and I) is to "help her over the hard -bite, and to herp Basil, too." "I- see that, Becky. But bow are we to Help hert" It -was George who spoke this time. "Oh, the ways will suggest themserrea. We know Joan now. and we know what a nice girl she. is; Xorai and I are seal fond of her." "I can't say I go as far as that," murmured Freddy. "Don't be an ass, Freddy,"' George said, impatiently. "Do you mean, Becky, that we should stand by her and stand up for her, when people like Cora Isaacson and Gracie Decies are disposed to be beastly critical?" ""Something like 'that." Becky said, brightening. "I knew you -would understand, George." Whereat George smiled, -well pleased. (To be continued on Saturday next.)