There might have been an element of tuft-hunting in it, but
there was no doubt that he was doing a useful part. For Robert was
of no use at all, Armine was too much of a mere boy to take the same
part, and John was feeling his injury a good deal more, could only
manage to do his part as bridegroom's man, and then had to go away
and lie down, while the wedding-breakfast went on. In consequence he
was spared the many repetitions of hearing how he had saved Miss
Evelyn from a watery grave, and Allen made a much longer speech than
he would have done for himself when undertaking, on Rob's strenuous
refusal, to return thanks for the bridesmaids.
That which made this unlike other such banquets, was that no one
could help perceiving how much less the bridegroom was the hero of
the day to the tenants than was the hectic young man who presided
over the feast, and how all the speeches, however they began in
honour of Captain Evelyn, always turned into wistful good auguries
for the elder brother.
There was no worship of the rising sun there, for when Lord Fordham,
in proposing the health of the bride and bridegroom, spoke of them as
future possessors, in the tone of a father speaking of his heir
apparent, there was a sub-audible "No, no," and poor Cecil fairly and
flagrantly broke down in returning thanks.
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