But the time arrived; the carriage drew up at the door.  Then nature and sisterly feeling asserted themselves for a minute.  Miss Selina “gave way,” not to any loud or indecorous extent, to nothing that could in the least harm her white satin, or crumple her laces and ribbons; but she did shed a tear or two—­real honest tears—­kissed her sisters affectionately, hoped they would be very happy at Richmond, and that they would often come to see her at Russell Square.

“You know,” said she, half apologetically, “it is a great deal better for one of us at least to be married and settled.  Indeed I assure you.  I have done it all for the good of my family.”

And for the time being she devoutly believed she had.

So it was all over.  Elizabeth herself, from the aisle of St. Pancras Church, watched the beginning and ending of the show; a very fine show, with a number of handsomely dressed people, wedding guests, who seemed to stare about them a good deal and take little interest in either bride or bridegroom.  The only persons Elizabeth recognized were her mistresses—­Miss Leaf, who kept her veil down and never stirred; and Miss Hilary, who stood close behind the bride, listening with downcast eyes to the beautiful marriage service.  It must have touched her more than on her sister’s account, for a tear, gathered under each eyelash, silently rolled down the soft cheek and fell.”

“Miss Hilary’s an angel, and he’ll be a lucky man that gets her,” meditated her faithful “bower-maiden” of old; as, a little excited by the event of the morning, she stood by the mantle-piece and contemplated a letter which had come after the ladies departed; one of these regular monthly Indian letters, after which, Elizabeth was sharp enough to notice, Miss Hilary’s step always grew lighter and her eye brighter for many days.

“It must be a nice thing to have somebody fond of one, and somebody to be fond of,” meditated she.  And “old fashioned piece of goods” as she was—­according to Mrs. Jones (who now, from the use she was in the Jones’s menage, patronized and confided in her extremely) some little bit of womanly craving after the woman’s one hope and crown of bliss crept into the poor maid-servant’s heart.  But it was not for the maid-servant’s usual necessity—­a “sweet heart”—­somebody to “keep company with;” it was rather for somebody to love, and perhaps take care of a little.  People love according to their natures; and Elizabeth’s was a strong nature; its principal element being a capacity for passionate devotedness, almost unlimited in extent.  Such women, who love most, are not always, indeed very rarely, loved best.  And so it was perhaps as well that poor Elizabeth should make up her mind, as she did very composedly, that she herself should never be married; but after that glorious wedding of Miss Hilary’s to Mr. Lyon, should settle down to take care of Miss Leaf all her days.

“And if I turn out only half as good and contented as my mistress, it can’t be such a dreadful thing to be an old maid after all,” stoically said Elizabeth Hand.