Books 13-16: Return to Jalna / Renny's Daughter / Variable Winds at Jalna / Centenary at Jalna

by Mazo de La Roche

  Mary also was in white and carried a basket of rosebuds. It was a trial to her to be stared at by so many people. Entering the church, with the air vibrating with the clamour of the wedding bells, she saw Noah Binns frantically ringing them. “I’ll ring them wedding bells,” he had declared, “if it’s the last thing I do.” He put his creaking back into the ordeal and he survived, gasping and ghastly.

  As Mary moved along the aisle, her downcast eyes were fixed on the sweet rosebuds in the basket she carried. She was not surprised to see among them a pretty little blond spider. Whether it was for the spider or for herself she did not know, but a tear shone bright on her pink cheek. Piers saw it as she passed close to him and could scarcely stop himself from wiping it away.

  Both Philip and Adeline made their responses with admirable clarity. Firmly he placed the ring on her finger, and, led by the Rector, said “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

  They knelt together, she who had held his hand and helped him to learn to walk. They who had pulled each other’s hair in childish combat.

  Finch was at the organ, and never in that church had the wedding march been played with such splendid dominion over the instrument.

  The air was full of music and admiring congratulations. Adeline remained very pale, but Philip was rosy as a young god.

  Renny Whiteoak had, for this occasion, bought a new car; and Wright, well turned out in dark blue, with chauffeur’s cap, was to drive the newly wed pair to Jalna. Wright was proud of his part in these important doings. He drove the car slowly and with dignity. Behind him Philip and Adeline sat, a little embarrassed, as though surprised to find themselves alone together. He just touched the flowers of her bouquet. “Pretty,” he said.

  She drew away. “Don’t,” she said.

  “Okay” he said, and took out his gold cigarette case, a wedding present, and lighted a cigarette.

  “Don’t,” she repeated.

  “why not?” he asked, surprised.

  “It isn’t appropriate.”

  He sent a puff of smoke down his nostrils.

  In a sudden fury she snatched the cigarette from his lips. They scuffled for it, but before he recovered it it had fallen on her veil and burned a small hole in it.

  “Oh — I am sorry!” he exclaimed.

  She tapped Wright on the shoulder. “Stop the car, Wright,” she ordered, still in a fury.

  Wright stopped the car. He looked inquiringly over his shoulder.

  Adeline opened the door. “I’m getting out,” she said.

  “what’s wrong?” asked Wright dumfounded.

  “Everything,” she raged. “Look at this.” She pointed to the hole in her veil.

  “I didn’t mean to,” said Philip — “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m getting out,” she repeated.

  “You can’t,” shouted Philip, and caught her by the wrist.

  But she had the door wide open and was already, impeded though she was by train, veil, and bouquet, descending into the dusty road.

  This was the sight that met the eyes of Renny Whiteoak in the car following. In an instant he, too, was in the road coming to meet her. She poured out an incoherent story of the mishap, while Philip, very red in the face, followed her along the road. Other cars, filled with wedding guests, were collecting.

  Renny took his daughter by the hand. “There’s a good girl,” he repeated soothingly. “A good girl. What’s a little hole in your veil? Come, come.”

  “It’s not only that,” she said. “It’s everything.”

  “There’s a good girl,” he soothed, as though she were a nervous filly. “There’s a good girl.”

  “You’ve got to come in the car with us,” she said. “I won’t go in it without you.”

  To humour her, he got into the car with her; and so the bride, the bridegroom, and the bride’s father returned to Jalna together. They were silent, Philip gazing resolutely out of the window, Adeline holding tightly to Renny’s thin muscular hand. When the car stopped at the door that stood in welcome wide open, Renny put off his air of tenderness and said authoritatively: “Now you will stand in the receiving line and behave yourself properly. No more tantrums or I’ll take a stick to your back.” But he smiled as he said it.

  Something very like a smirk dimpled Philip’s cheek. He offered his arm to Adeline and she laid her slender gloved band on it. Little Mary had overheard this threat, for she was waiting in the porch. Now she stole to a corner of the dining room and had a little cry.

  But she was not left in peace. Rags soon sought her out. “They’re asking for you, Miss,” he said, “to stand in the line. And what a picture you look, to be sure!” He led her to the drawing room.

  How glad she would be when all was over and she was safe at home, in an old cool dress, and with Ernest to play with! It was a comforting thought to her that some of the men of the family would very soon be leaving. Philip was going on what he called a honeymoon. Maurice and Patrick were soon to go to Ireland. Uncle Finch was taking Dennis to the States; she hoped he would never come back.

  Mary did not think of Ernest as a male. He was a baby — hers to play with and keep for her own, always. Now, in an old dress, she bent over him as he lay in his cot laughing up at her. The bright whites of his eyes showed round the bright blue of the iris. He had got two teeth.

  Her face close to his, she sniffed the pleasing scent of his flesh.

  “You’re prettier than a spider,” she said, “sweeter than a rose.”

  “what’s that you say, Mary?” demanded Pheasant.

  “Oh, nothing,” said Mary.

  THE END

  The Jalna Novels by Mazo de la Roche

  International Bestsellers by Mazo de la Roche

  Back in Print!

  Mazo de la Roche was once Canada’s best-known writer, loved by millions of readers around the world. She created unforgettable characters who come to life for her readers, but she was secretive about her own life. When she died in 1961, her cousin and lifelong companion, Caroline Clement, burned her diaries, adding to the aura of mystery that already surrounded Mazo.

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