The pool of St Branok

Grace was delighted for Morwenna. She said that even if she had been married because she was an heiress, was that not the reason why so many debutantes were married? It was absurd to hold up one's hand in horror because someone had used a rather different method with the same object in view.

She said Morwenna was a girl who needed romance to pull her out of that mood of self-deprecation into which she had fallen, and what could be a better antidote to that than an elopement? Justin Cartwright at worst could be the same as many men who, during the season, were looking for an advantageous marriage; at best it could be genuine love which had prompted him to elope with Morwenna.

"Let us hope it is the latter," she added.

And that was what we all did.

The Pencarrons returned to Cornwall, taking Morwenna and her husband with them. There was to be that ceremony at St Ervan's and they would start making plans.

As for myself, I remained a little longer in London; Grace was with us most of the time; we bought materials and talked of wedding plans. Gervaise came to London and we had a few wonderful days together; we went again to the opera and we had luncheon alone together—permitted now that we were officially engaged. And then I said goodbye to Gervaise.

I should not see him again until we married.

Back at Cador there was no talk of anything but the coming wedding. Morwenna had had her ceremony. They had thought it best to have the whole thing completed so that they would feel that Morwenna was really married and they could not feel that until the ceremony in St Ervan's took place. So there were hasty preparations. Morwenna had her white gown and orange blossom; she was married in the church and many returned to Pencarron to take part in the reception.

I wished I had been there in time to participate.

"Never mind," said Morwenna, "I shall certainly come to yours."

She was like a different person. There was no doubt that she was happy and, as she had never expected to be, she enjoyed it all the more. In those days she went about in a state of dazed bliss. Justin was very tender to her. I liked him for that, although I could not rid myself of the idea which Uncle Peter had sown in my mind that he might be an adventurer. The Pencarrons were certainly very wealthy and Morwenna was their only child. Marriage with her must seem a good proposition to any needy young man seeking an heiress.

But when his father-in-law offered to take him into the business he politely declined. He was grateful. It was a great honor, Morwenna told me he said, but he could not do it.

"He is so noble," she went on. "He says he wants to support his wife without the help of her father. He can do it, and although she may not be as rich in her new life as she was with her parents, she would be well looked after. Wasn't that wonderful of him? You see, he is so used to living in town. He wouldn't fit into a rural society."

"I can see that," I said.

"He's like Gervaise. You couldn't see him in the country either, could you?"

I admitted she was right.

"Pa has offered to give us a house in London for a wedding present but he is having difficulty in getting Justin to agree to take it. You see, he doesn't want to take anything."

"Where was he living then?" I asked.

"In a hotel."

"He could hardly expect you to live in a hotel."

"No. So I think that for my sake he will accept Pa's offer. They don't really want me to go to London. They would like us to settle here."

"What do you feel about it, Morwenna?"

"Oh, I want to be where Justin is. Mother and Pa can come up and stay with us ... often. And we can come down here."

"It sounds like a good arrangement. And you are very happy, aren't you, Morwenna?"

She nodded. "Life is wonderful," she said. "So unexpected. Those awful balls ... those dinner parties. I never knew what to say to anybody and I would sit there feeling that everyone was trying to think up excuses to get away from me."

"And Justin changed all that."

"He was quite different from anyone else. He really wanted to be with me. He listened to what I had to say. He made me feel that I was interesting. It has changed everything."

"I hope you will always be as happy as you are now, Morwenna."

"I shall always be happy as long as I have Justin."

I thought: The man is a miracle worker. He has changed her completely. Or is it simply Love?

The weeks flew by. My wedding dress was ready. We had it made in Plymouth. It lacked the grandeur of my court dress but it was very beautiful. There was my veil and orange blossom. I should be the typical bride.

As Morwenna had been, I was married in St Ervan's. My father gave me away and Morwenna was my matron of honor. Gervaise was a very handsome bridegroom and I was proud of him. The reception followed, toasts were drunk and, with the help of Gervaise, I cut the cake. We left the guests while I went up to change into my going-away costume.