The Young Visiters or, Mr. Salteena's Plan
With plesure my darling said Bernard I will just pack up our viands
ere I unloose the boat.
Ethel felt better after a few drops of champagne and began to tidy her
hair while Bernard packed the remains of the food. Then arm in arm
they tottered to the boat.
I trust you have not got an illness my darling murmured Bernard as he
helped her in.
[Pg 94]
Oh no I am very strong said Ethel I fainted from joy she added to
explain matters.
Oh I see said Bernard handing her a cushon well some people do he
added kindly and so saying they rowed down the dark stream now flowing
silently beneath a golden moon. All was silent as the lovers glided
home with joy in their hearts and radiunce on their faces only the
sound of the mystearious water lapping against the frail vessel broke
the monotony of the night.
So I will end my chapter.
[Pg 95]
CHAPTER 10
PREPARING FOR THE FRAY
The next few days were indeed bussy for Ethel and Bernard. First of
all Ethel got some dainty pink note paper with silver crest on it and
sent out invitations in the following terms to all their frends.
Miss Ethel Monticue will be married to
Mr Bernard Clark at Westminster Abbey
on June 10th. Your company is requested
there at 2-30 sharp and afterwards
for refreshment at the Gaierty Hotel.
R.S.V.P.
Having posted heaps of these and got several replies Ethel began to
order her wedding dress which cost a good bit. She chose a rich satin
with a humped pattern of gold on the pure white and it had a long
train [Pg 96] edged with Airum lilies. Her veil was of pure lace with a
crown of orange blossum. Her bouquett she ordered to be of white dog
daisies St. Joseph lilies and orange blossums tied up with pale blue
satin ribbon.
You will indeed be a charming spectacle my darling gasped Bernard as
they left the shop. Then they drove to the tailor where Bernard
ordered an elligant black suit with coat tails lined with crimson
satin and a pale lavender tie and an opera hat of the same hue and he
intended to wear violets in his buttonholes also his best white spats
diamond studs and a few extras of costly air. They both ordered a lot
of new clothes besides and Bernard gave Ethel a very huge tara made of
rubies and diamonds also two rich bracelets and Ethel gave him a bran
new trunk of shiny green leather. The earl of Clincham sent a charming
gift of some hem stitched sheets edged with real lace and a photo of
himself in a striking attitude. [Pg 97] Mr Salteena sent Ethel a bible
with a few pious words of advice and regret and he sent Bernard a very
handy little camp stool. Ethels parents were too poor to come so far but
her Mother sent her a gold watch which did not go but had been some years
in the family and her father provided a cheque for L2 and promised to
send her a darling little baby calf when ready. Then they ordered the
most splendid refreshments they had tea and coffie and sparkling wines
to drink also a lovly wedding cake of great height with a sugar angel
at the top holding a sword made of almond paste. They had countless
cakes besides also ices jelly merangs jam tarts with plenty of jam on
each some cold tongue some ham with salid and a pig's head done up in
a wondrous manner. Ethel could hardly contain herself as she gazed at
the sumpshious repast and Bernard gave her a glass of rich wine while
he imbibed some whiskey before going to bed. Ethel got speedilly into
her [Pg 98] bed for the last time at the dear old Gaierty and shed a few
salt tears thinking of her past life but she quickly cheerd up and began
to plan about how many children she would have. I hope I shall have a
good lot she thourght to herself and so saying fell into repose.
[Pg 99]
CHAPTER 11
THE WEDDING
The Abbey was indeed thronged next day when Ethel and Bernard cantered
up in a very fine carrage drawn by two prancing steeds who foamed a
good deal. In the porch stood several clean altar boys who conducted
the lucky pair up the aile while the organ pealed a merry blast The
mighty edifice was packed and seated in the front row was the Earl of
Clincham looking very brisk as he was going to give Ethel away at the
correct moment. Beside him sat Mr Salteena all in black and looking
bitterly sad and he ground his teeth as Ethel came marching up. There
were some merry hymns and as soon as Ethel and Bernard were one the
clergyman began a sermon about Adam and Eve and the serpent and [Pg 100]
Mr Salteena cried into his large handkerchief and the earl kept on
nudging him as his sniffs were rarther loud. Then the wedding march
pealed fourth and doun the church stepped Ethel and Bernard as husband
and wife. Into the cab they got and speedelly dashed off to the
Gaierty. The wedding refreshments were indeed a treat to all and even
Mr Salteena cheered up when he beheld the wedding cake and sparkling
wines. Then the earl got up and made a very fine speech about marrage
vows and bliss and he quoted several good bits from the bible which
got a lot of applause. Bernard replied in good round terms. I thank
your lordship for those kind remarks he said in clear tones I expect
we shall be as happy as a lark and I hope you will all be ditto some
day. Here Here muttered a stray lady in the crowd and down sat Bernard
while Ethel went up to change her wedding garment for a choice pink
velvit dress with a golden gurdle and a very chick tocque. Bernard
[Pg 101] also put on a new suit of blue stripe and some silk socks and
clean under clothing. Hurah hurah shouted the guests as the pair
reappeard in the aforesaid get ups. Then everybody got a bag of rice and
sprinkled on the pair and Mr Salteena sadly threw a white tennis shoe
at them wiping his eyes the while. Off drove the happy pair and the
guests finished up the food. The happy pair went to Egypt for there
Honymoon as they thought it would be a nice warm spot and they had
never seen the wondrous land. Ethel was a bit sick on the boat but
Bernard braved the storm in manly style. However Ethel had recovered
by the time they got to Egypt and here we will leave them for a merry
six weeks of bliss while we return to England.
[Pg 102]
CHAPTER 12
HOW IT ENDED
Mr Salteena by the aid of the earl and the kindness of the Prince of
Wales managed to get the job his soul craved and any day might be seen
in Hyde park or Pickadilly galloping madly after the Royal Carrage in
a smart suit of green velvit with knickerbockers compleat. At first he
was rarther terrified as he was not used to riding and he found his
horse bumped him a good deal and he had to cling on desperatly to its
flowing main. At other times the horse would stop dead and Mr Salteena
would use his spurs and bad languige with no avail. But he soon got
more used to his fresh and sultry steed and His Royal Highness seemed
satisfide.
The Earl continued his merry life at the [Pg 103] Compartments till
finally he fell in love with one of the noble ladies who haunted them.
She was not so pretty as Ethel as she had rarther a bulgy figure and
brown eyes but she had lovely raven tresses a pointed nose and a rose
like complexion of a dainty hue. She had very nice feet and plenty of
money. Her name was called Lady Helena Herring and her age was 25 and
she mated well with the earl.
Mr Salteena grew very lonely after the earl was marrid and he could
not bear a single life any more so failing Ethel he marrid one of the
maids in waiting at Buckingham palace by name Bessie Topp a plesant
girl of 18 with a round red face and rarther stary eyes.
So now that all our friends are marrid I will add a few words about
their familys. Ethel and Bernard returned from their Honymoon with a
son and hair a nice fat baby called Ignatius Bernard. They soon [Pg 104]
had six more children four boys and three girls and some of them were
twins which was very exciting.
The Earl only got two rarther sickly girls called Helen and Marie
because the last one looked slightly french.
Mr Salteena had a large family of 10 five of each but he grew very
morose as the years rolled by and his little cottage was very noisy
and his wife was a bit annoying at times especially when he took to
dreaming of Ethel and wishing he could have marrid her. Still he was a
pius man in his way and found relief in prayer.
Bernard Clark was the happiest of our friends as he loved Ethel to the
bitter end and so did she him and they had a nice house too.
The Earl soon got tired of his sickly daughters and his wife had a
savage temper so he thourght he would divorce her and try again but he
gave up the idear after [Pg 105] several attempts and decided to offer
it up as a Mortification.
So now my readers we will say farewell to the characters in this book.
The End
by Daisy Ashford