Need I add that we made the most of it?
Mayor-choosing Day came round, and Dr.Hansombody, elected by the unanimous vote of his fellow-councillors, attained to one of the twin summits of his ambition and was indued as Chief Magistrate with robe and chain.

Six weeks later the town heard, at first incredulously, that he and Miss Marty were betrothed.

The nuptials, it was announced, would be celebrated next June, on the decent expiry of a year of mourning.
Miss Sally Tregentil, on hearing the news, opined the Doctor's conduct to be quixotic--a self-immolation, almost, upon the altar of friendship.
Miss Pescod, for her part, believed that he was after the woman's money.

This unworthy suspicion the Doctor was fortunately able to rebut, and in the most public manner.

After the wedding (a quiet one) he and his bride spent a short honeymoon at Sidmouth and returned but to announce their departure on a more distant journey.
The Major's death being by this time, in legal phrase, "presumed," the Court of Canterbury had allowed Miss Marty to take out letters of administration.