CHAPTER XCIX.
THE STORY ENDS.
The old minutes of the Irish House of Lords can better explain than I
the parliamentary process by which all the consequences of the judgment
against the late Lord Dunoran were abrogated, as respected his son. An
ancient name rescued from the shadow of dishonour, and still greater
estates, made my lord and lady as happy as things can. So for the
recluse Mervyn, and the fair Gertrude Chattesworth, our story ends like
a fairy tale.
A wedding in those days was a celebration and a feast; and it was deemed
fitting that the union of Gertrude Chattesworth and the youthful Lord
Dunoran should await the public vindication of his family, and the
authentic restoration of all their rights and possessions. On the eve of
this happy day, leaning on the youthful arm of kindly Dan Loftus, there
came a figure not seen there for many months before, very much changed, grown, oh, how old! It was the good rector, who asked to see Miss Gertrude.
And so when he entered the room, she ran to meet him with a little cry; and she threw her arms about his neck and sobbed a good deal on that old, cassocked shoulder, and longed to ask him to let her be as a daughter to him. But he understood her and, after a while, he wished her joy, very kindly. And my Lord Dunoran came in, and was very glad to see him, and very tender and reverent too; and the good doctor, as he could not be at the wedding, wished to say a word 'on the eve of the great change which my dear young friend—little Gertie, we used to call her—is about to make.' And so he talked to them both. It was an affectionate little homily, and went on something in this sort—
'But I need not say how honourable an estate it is, only, my lord, you
will always remember your wooing is not over with your wedding. As you
did first choose your love, you must hereafter love your choice. In
Solomon's Song, the Redeemer the bridegroom, and the Church His spouse, one calls the other "love," to show that though both did not honour alike, yet both should love alike.
'And always be kind, and the kinder the more her weakness needs it. Elkanah says to his wife, "Am not I better unto thee than ten sons?" As though he favoured her more for that which she thought herself despised. So a good husband will not love his wife less, but comfort her more for her infirmities, as this man did, that she may bear with his infirmities too. And if she be jealous—ay, they will be jealous—'
He spoke in a reverie, with a sad fond look, not a smile, but something
like a smile, and a little pensive shake of the head; he was thinking, perhaps, of very old times. And 'my lord' glanced with a sly smile at Gertrude, who was looking on the carpet with, I think, a blush, and I'm sure saw my lord's glance seeking hers, but made as though she did not.
'If she be jealous, her jealousy, you know, is still the measure of her
love. Bless God that he hath made thee to her so dear a treasure that
she cannot hide her fears and trouble lest she should lose even a
portion of thy love; and let thy heart thank her too.
'And if the husband would reprove her, it must be in such a mood as if
he did chide with himself, and his words like Jonathan's arrows, which
were not shot to hurt but to give warning. She must have no words but
loving words from thee. She is come to thee as to a sanctuary to defend
her from hurt, and canst thou hurt her thyself? Does the king trample
his crown? Solomon calls the wife the crown of her husband; therefore, he who despiseth her woundeth his own honour. I am resolved to honour virtue in what sex soever I find it.'
The doctor was speaking this like a soliloquy, slowly, and looking on
the floor.