Give my kindest love to Julia, and ask her from me to accept the little present which I send her.' Julia declared that she would much rather not have accepted the brooch, and that she would never wear it.

But animosity against such articles wears itself out quickly, and it may be expected that the little ornament will be seen in the houses of the Suffolk gentry among whom Mr.
Smirkie is so popular.
Whether it was Mr.Smirkie's popularity, or the general estimation in which the Babington family were held, or the delight which is taken by the world at large in weddings, there was a very great gathering at Babington church, and in the Squire's house afterwards.

Though it was early in March,--a time of the year which, in the eastern counties of England, is not altogether propitious to out-of-doors festivity,--though the roads were muddy, and the park sloppy, and the church abominably open to draughts, still there was a crowd.

The young ladies in that part of the world had been slow in marrying lately, and it was felt that the present occasion might give a little fillip to the neighbourhood.

This was the second Suffolk young lady that Mr.Smirkie had married, and he was therefore entitled to popularity.