devotionbyfurtivelycaressinghiswrinkledfrontseemstooreproachfulofthegeneralpublic；while，ontheotherhand，ifthebrideisveryyoungandpretty，itenlistsinbehalfofthewhite-hairedhusbandtheunwillingsympathiesofthespectatortoseeherthecentreofagroupofyoungpeople，andhimonlyacknowledgedfromtimetotimebyaParthiansnub。Nothing，however，couldhavebeenmoresatisfactorythanthesisterlysurroundingofthislatterbride。TheywereofabetterclassofIrishpeople；andifithadbeenanysacrificeforhertomarrysooldaman，theyweredoingtheirbesttogivetheaffairatleastthelivelinessofawake。Therewerefiveorsixofthosegreathandsomegirls，withtheirgenerouscurvesandwholesomecolors，andtheywereeveryoneattendedbyagood-lookingcoloniallover，withwhomtheyjokedinslightlybroguedvoices，andlaughedwithcarelessCelticlaughter。
Oneoftheyoungfellowspresentlylosthishatoverboard，andhadtowearthehandkerchiefofhisladyabouthishead；andthisappearedtobereallyoneofthebestthingsintheworld，andledtoendlessbanter。
Theywerewelldressed，anditcouldbeimaginedthattheancientbridegroomhadcomeinforthesupportofthewholegood-looking，healthy，light-heartedfamily。Insomedegreehelookedit，andworebutaruefulcountenanceforabridegroom；sothataveryyoungnewlymarriedcouple，whosatnextthejollysister-and-loverhoodcouldnotkeeptheirpityingeyesoffhisdowncastface。“Whatifhe，too，wereyoungatheart！“thekindlittlewife’sregardseemedtosay。
Forthesakeoftheslightairthatwasstirring，andtohavethebestviewoftheRapids，theBanshee’swholecompanywasgatheredupontheforwardpromenade，andthethrongwasalmostasdenseasinasix-o’clockhorse-caroutfromBoston。Thestandingandsittinggroupswerecloselypackedtogether，andtheexpandedparasolsandumbrellasformedanearlyunbrokenroof。UnderthisIsabelchattedatintervalswiththeEllisons，whosatnear；butitwasnotanatmospherethatprovokedsocialfeeling，andshewassecretlygladwhenafterawhiletheyshiftedtheirposition。
Itwasdeadlyhot，andmostofthepeoplesaddenedandsilencedintheheat。Fromtimetotimethecloudsidlingaboutoverheadmetandsprinkleddownacruellittleshowerofrainthatseemedtomaketheairlessbreathablethanbefore。Thelonelyshoreswereyellowwithdrought；