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She might ask a couple of the Brennans or the Duffys to stay with them, but they would be in the way, and occupy the Marquis's time, and go tell-taling all over the country; no, that wouldn't do either. Alice's playing was wretched. It was a wonderful thing that a girl like her would not make some effort to amuse men would not do something.
The train was full of girls. Besides the Bartons, there were the Brennans: Gladys and Zoe Emily remained at home to look after the place. Three of the Miss Duffys were coming to the Drawing-Room, and four of the Honourable Miss Gores; the Goulds and Scullys made one party, and to avoid Mrs. Barton, the Ladies Cullen had pleaded important duties. They were to follow in a day or so.
The priest joined their hands, Edward put the ring on Alice's finger, and the usual prayers did no harm if they did no good; and having signed their names in the register and bid good-bye to the Miss Brennans, they got into the carriage, man and wife, their feet set for ever upon one path, their interests and delights melted to one interest and one delight, their separate troubles merged into one trouble that might or might not be made lighter by the sharing; and penetrated by such thoughts they leaned back on the blue cushions of the carriage, happy, and yet a little frightened.
'Now come along, Miss Barton, cried Mrs. Barton, catching sight of Alice; 'and will you, Lord Dungory, look after Olive? Lord Rosshill collected the five Honourable Miss Gores, the Miss Brennans drew around Mrs. Scully, who, without taking the least notice of them, steered her way. And so ended, at least so far as they were concerned, the ball given by the spinsters of the county of Galway.
She had talked to these Brennans, seen how they lived, could guess what their past was, what their future must be. In that neat little house their uneventful life dribbled away in maiden idleness; neither hope nor despair broke the triviality of their days and yet, was it their fault? No; for what could they do if no one would marry them? a woman could do nothing without a husband.
But it could be drained, for there is a fall into the marin stream betwixt your honour's property and the Miss Brennans'. It wouldn't cost more than forty pound, and the Miss Brennans will pay half if yer honour will pay the other. Mr. Barton listened patiently to those peasant-like digressions, while Mrs. Barton listened patiently to the Captain's fervid declarations of love.
The famous Bertha, the terror of the débutantes, rushed to Brookfield, but she did not get there before the Brennans, and the result was a meeting of these families of girls in Mrs. Barton's drawing-room. Gladys was, however, the person chosen by God and herself to speak the wonderful words: 'Of course you have heard the news, Mrs. Barton? 'No, replied Mrs.
Cecilia's eyes flashed with a momentary gleam of satisfaction, and spoke of a little excursion a walk to the Brennans, who lived two miles distant that she had been planning for the last few days. The girls had given each other rendezvous at the gate of Dungory Castle.
Their evening gowns suggested the dinner-hour, and reminded Alice that she had to prepare herself for the meal. All the Galway people, excepting the Honourable Misses Gore and the Scullys who had taken houses in town for the season dined at table d'hote. The Miss Duffys were, with the famous Bertha, the terror of the débutantes. The Brennans and the Goulds sat at the same table.
'Well, mother dear, there's no use being angry about it; let the thing pass. You know the Brennans, Alice; they are neighbours of yours. 'Yes, Cecilia and I walked over to see them the other day; we had tea with them. 'Their great hunting-ground is the Shelbourne Hotel they take it in turns, a couple of them go up every six months. 'How can you say such things, May? I will not suffer it.
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