It is a quieter, snugger, and more convenient place in every way." "Oh," said she, with real distress.

"How can I be married except at church, and with all my dear friends round me ?" "Yeoman Winterborne among them." "Yes--why not?
You know there was nothing serious between him and me." "You see, dear, a noisy bell-ringing marriage at church has this objection in our case: it would be a thing of report a long way round.
Now I would gently, as gently as possible, indicate to you how inadvisable such publicity would be if we leave Hintock, and I purchase the practice that I contemplate purchasing at Budmouth--hardly more than twenty miles off.

Forgive my saying that it will be far better if nobody there knows where you come from, nor anything about your parents.

Your beauty and knowledge and manners will carry you anywhere if you are not hampered by such retrospective criticism." "But could it not be a quiet ceremony, even at church ?" she pleaded.
"I don't see the necessity of going there!" he said, a trifle impatiently.

"Marriage is a civil contract, and the shorter and simpler it is made the better.