it was the evening before jack's confirmation and tom's and betty's wedding day. up and down the paddock paced tom and jack, arm in arm, and tom's heart was almost as full of the boy who gripped his arm as of the fair woman whom he would call wife on the morrow.
"it will be a great day for us both, jack," he said, giving expression to his thought.
"yes, uncle tom."
"your whole life may depend upon your decision."
"yes, it's rather awful when you come to think of it."
"it would be if you did not feel sure that the hosts of god, that god himself is behind you."
"uncle tom, i want to grow into just such a man as you."
"ah no," said tom quickly. "there is but one model for us all to copy, the man christ jesus."
jack's heart was too full to answer.
"i do wish father could have got here in time," he said, wistfully.
"aunt betty thinks he will appear some time to-morrow, but she does not think it possible that he can arrive in time for the service."
"i heartily wish he could for all our sakes. aunt betty is almost as keen as you, for she longs to get a glimpse of him before i carry her off. we leave for launceston in the afternoon."
"it would be just beastly if i did not know that i shall see you both in england in a few months' time; but now i shall have father, and going about with him all the time, i shan't be able to miss anyone very much. i wish girls didn't cry. whenever i talk of going to england, eva cries or blows her nose to prevent it! men aren't made like that, are they? it would be horrid if they were! i always tell her to dry up, and perhaps some day, when i'm a man, i'll come out and marry her."
tom laughed out loud; it was rather refreshing to find that the boy at his side, so manly in some ways, was still at heart as innocent as a child.
"but eva might have found someone else to marry by that time," he suggested.
"oh, of course if she did it would be all right, and she would not want me," said jack, nonchalantly, in no way affected at the thought of the loss of his ladylove. "she has cheered up a bit since aunt betty has consented to her being bridesmaid, although she's not to be dressed up fine, just a new white frock and a white muslin hat, she says."
then aunt betty's voice, ringing down the paddock, called them both in to supper.
the little church was full to overflowing on the morrow, for quick as had been the final choice of the wedding day the rumour of it had spread like fire through the township, and loving hands had been busy on the previous afternoon, decorating the tiny sanctuary with madonna lilies and other white flowers for the double service. and all had been carried through so quickly and quietly that no one at the farm knew anything of it.
it was only a handful of candidates that were presented for confirmation, not more than a score, but of those it may be said that the present vicar had spent much time and prayer on their preparation. the candidates were ranged in the front seats, and quite at the back of the church was seated the party from the farm, with clarissa and eva, and the intervening benches were filled with neighbours from the township. the only one who had come from a distance was jessie butler, who hearing that her friend of earlier years was to be confirmed, and remembering his presence at her own confirmation, had come to stay a night or two with someone in wallaroo on purpose to be present when jack was confirmed.
the congregation rose simultaneously to its feet as the bishop, preceded by the vicar, appeared from the tiny vestry, and the service began with a hymn, during the singing of which the rather unusual sound of a motor driving at full speed and brought to a sudden standstill outside the open door of the little church, fell upon betty's ear. could it be the sudden arrival of a belated candidate. but creeping quietly into the church, her glad eyes recognised jack's father, standing hesitatingly in the doorway. he had motored all the way from launceston to be present at his son's confirmation, and mr. treherne, with a quick movement, motioned him to betty's side. it was the one presence she and jack needed to make the day perfect in their eyes. and a great joy and thankfulness filled the elder jack's heart, as he recognised his tall boy standing at the head of the row of boy candidates, and heard his emphatic promise to renew his baptismal promises and serve god manfully for the rest of his life, and when it came to jack's turn to kneel before the bishop and receive the laying on of hands, betty's hand sought for a moment that of her brother-in-law, and together they sank upon their knees and prayed very fervently for god's blessing on the head of the boy who was almost equally dear to both of them.
the bishop's charge was a very simple one, but the earnest words could scarcely fail to reach the hearts of all who listened to them, and a reverent hush fell on the congregation as he pronounced the blessing. and then there was a pause for those who wished to leave the church, but not one stirred from his place. they waited for what was to follow. then tom, with a glance at betty, moved to the chancel steps to be followed immediately by betty, leaning on her father's arm, while little eva with round wondering eyes took her place behind, and forthwith the wedding service proceeded. jack's father, meanwhile, had walked up the church and taken his own place by his son.
then, in low clear voices, fully audible to all present, tom and betty spoke out their promises to be true and loyal to each other as long as life should last. there were those in the congregation who beforehand had grumbled that such an unusual event as a wedding should be carried through in what they were pleased to call such a hole-and-corner fashion, but criticism vanished when the simply attired bride came down the church upon her husband's arm. all felt the bright-faced bride was in her right setting.
the bishop, after shaking hands with the wedding couple, had to hurry off for another function, and then the wedding party walked quietly back to the farm, where a meal, laid in readiness beforehand, awaited them. jack sat by his father and tom and betty were placed in the centre of the table. just at the end of the meal, mr. treherne rose to his feet.
"god bless my girl, as good a daughter as ever stepped, and god bless the man she has married," was all he said, and betty turned and kissed him.
the last half hour before the buggy came round to carry them to the station was spent by betty in her mother's room. what passed between them none knew, but when betty came out in her neat travelling dress, there were traces of tears in her eyes. then came the hubbub of adieus, and more farewells had to be spoken at the gate of the paddock, where half the township had gathered to wish the bride and bridegroom farewell. missiles of all description had been tabooed, but the kindly cheers of her neighbours, the eager outstretched hands which grasped hers, were a lovely ending to a happy life, thought betty, as she drove off with her husband at her side. for she fully realised that one page of her life was folded down, but another page, very fair and white, was spread out before her.
what shall be written upon it is not for us to say. some blots will surely blister it.
"into each life some rain must fall,
some days must be dark and dreary."
but now as betty drives away with sunshine in her face and sunshine in her heart, we breathe the prayer that such days will be few and far between.
