294 SWAMP HALL. 



tery was solved the calumniator was discovered the writer was te the 

 friend of the family ! " 



Mr. Penny was a pacific man ; but, certainly, the vague thought of 

 kicking Mr. Solon, darkened the sereneness of his mind. He involun- 

 tarily lifted his foot, but his eye caught the bridal favours of his daugh- 

 ter and, with the exception of a terrible look cast at Mr. Solon, he was 

 passive. Mrs. Penny bit her lips, and, bursting into tears, looked as if 

 she could fall tooth and nail on the friend of the family. She turned 

 and fell upon the neck of her daughter, the Hon. Mrs. Rustington. 

 Mr. Solon owned himself the author, at the same time expressed himself 

 almost disgusted at the ingratitude of Mr. and Mrs. Penny. " He had 

 done every thing for the best : if he had highly coloured the danger, it 

 was only that it might be more promptly avoided. He, however, had 

 no wish to interfere with people's domestic affairs he didn't wish to 

 intrude he could go to Swamp Hall!" 



The charm of the day was broken : the hymeneal sun was obscured 

 with clouds. The bride was dissolved in tears the bride's father and 

 mother looked gloomily at one another the bridegroom twisted his 

 mustachios the guests were silent Mr. Bluesoul and Mrs. Bearsfoot 

 looked injured virtue and the friend of the family looked at his nails. 

 Matters were at this point, when the door was burst open, and in rushed 

 three men, they (but the solemnity of their mission demands the con- 

 sequence of a new paragraph) . 



Three men, of the most coarse and vulgar appearance, rushed in 

 and, looking neither to the right nor left, they made straight up to the 

 Hon. Mr. Rustington, whom shudder, ye nuptial loves ! and Hymen 

 drop an extinguisher on your flaming torch they took in custody, on a 

 charge of " forgery and swindling." Mrs. Rustington fainted the 

 guests exclaimed Mr. Penny, who had lost all patience, clenched his 

 fist in the friend of the family's face. 



ee Did you not answer me meddler, villain that you are did you 

 not say that you knew that man ? did you not say, he had connexions in 

 the colonies ?" 



" Lord love you, sir," replied one of the officers, " and so he has: for 

 his brother and two uncles were transported last sessions !" 



" Transported !" shrieked Mrs. Penny, " and has my dear Mary, 

 married a convict ?" 



" Married your daughter, ma'am," answered the same functionary, 

 " why then we may clap to forgery and swindling, bigamy ; for Char- 

 lotte Bunce, his lawful wife, an honest woman takes in washing at 

 Horsleydown !" 



te Are you sure tell me, are you sure," cried poor Mr. Penny, whose 

 face was now as white as the wedding riband. 



" Certain of it ; you shall see her certificate 'afore you sleep." 



The prisoner was removed. The guests, with the exception of two or 

 three intimate acquaintances of the family, departed ; and the Pennys 

 remained in indescribable suspense for the return of the officer, that they 

 might learn their fate. At length they heard a carriage dash up to the 

 door, and in a moment Edward Wilkins rushed into the room thrust a 

 slip of paper into the hands of Mr. Penny, and snatching Mary from the 

 neck of her mother, folded her in his arms, and kissed her, as though she 

 had been restored to him from the dead. 



The voice of Mr. Penny faltered, and the tears came to his eyes, as he 



