MATRIMONY AND MOONSHINE. 39 



" All the water has fallen over my hand," cried Julia, as she held 

 it forth to be bound up. 



" All ! did you say? Not half!" exclaimed Drost, with pain. 

 " Look at my feet I shall have no more rural walks." 



" The sun is the cause of all this," sighed Julia, as she threw some 

 rose-water over her hand ; " it is all very well when such things are 

 be seen at ten or eleven o'clock in the day ; but to place one's-self at 



window at midnight to watch for day-break" a deep sigh finished 



the sentence. 



They sat quite silent for at least an hour. The pain gradually di- 

 minished. At last, their reflections were interrupted by the discord- 

 ant clang of all the bells in the village. Julia looked, with curiosity, 

 from the window. A stream of people flowed towards the church- 

 door. 



" J tell you what we will do," said she, quickly, " we will go to 

 church ; there, we shall, at least, see company ; and, besides, I am 

 anxious to see how people pray in the country." 



They entered the church, and were conducted to the principal seat. 

 The little, rosy pastor ascended the pulpit. The peasants stared 

 at the pastor's mouth, whence truth seemed to flow like water 

 from the rock of Moses. The preacher's eyes met Julia's ; his sermon 

 became unintelligible and confused. Drost criticised the female in- 

 habitants of the village ; his eyes turned away, disgusted, from the 

 rude forms, inexpressive features, and sun-burnt hands of the 

 peasants. Sleep, at length, seized upon its victim, and the em- 

 barrassment of the pastor increased. Presently all lips were opened, 

 a hundred rough voices overpowered the organ, whose shrill tones 

 whistled like a blast of wind through the vaulted church. Julia 

 was stunned, the people pressed closer round the altar, and the heat 

 and noise were excessive. 



" Give me quiet and fresh air," faintly articulated Julia, and they 

 hastened out of the church. 



" I am alarmingly ill !" she said, as she sunk exhausted on 

 the sofa. 



" Heavens !" exclaimed Drost, in dismay, " I will send directly 

 for a physician." 



" Physician ! yes, you may send; but luxuries, I fear, are not to be 

 had in a place like this/' 



" What is to be done ? I would willingly return to our residence 

 God knows how willingly ! but only the day before yesterday 

 the servants ran about town with cards to take leave ; and to return 

 on the third day would provoke universal ridicule." 



" You will take care to bury me among the blackbirds ?" sighed 

 Julia. 



" God forbid !" cried Drost, ringing the bell : the servants hurried 

 in. " Pack up !" he exclaimed ; " we will leave this place in an 

 hour." The servants hurried out. 



" But, dear Julia !" continued he, with inquietude, " if the motion 

 of the carriage should make you worse ?" 



" Do not be uneasy," said Julia ; " motion will restore me it is all 

 I require." 



