We missed him greatly.

An emergency arose in which his courage and gift of speech might have been of use.

I can imagine how he would have handled the crowd that assembled outside while the wedding was in progress.

In short, we were treated to a shivaree, or _charivari_.
No sooner had the clergyman pronounced the final words than the most unearthly noise broke loose right at the door.

There was the sound of tin pans, kettles, horns, drums; and this pandemonium was punctuated by the firing of shots and the throwing of stones at the door and gravel upon the window panes.