 fixed to take place on the fourth day from
that time: the suddenness of which preparations reduced three dress-makers and a
tailor to the extreme verge of insanity.
    Getting post-horses to the carriage, old Wardle started off, next day, to
bring his mother up to town. Communicating his intelligence to the old lady with
characteristic impetuosity, she instantly fainted away; but being promptly
revived, ordered the brocaded silk gown to be packed up forthwith, and proceeded
to relate some circumstances of a similar nature attending the marriage of the
eldest daughter of Lady Tollimglower, deceased, which occupied three hours in
the recital, and were not half finished at last.
    Mrs. Trundle had to be informed of all the mighty preparations that were
making in London, and being in a delicate state of health was informed thereof
through Mr. Trundle, lest the news should be too much for her; but it was not
too much for her, inasmuch as she at once wrote off to Muggleton, to order a new
cap and a black satin gown, and moreover avowed her determination of being
present at the ceremony. Hereupon, Mr. Trundle called in the doctor, and the
doctor said Mrs. Trundle ought to know best how she felt herself, to which Mrs.
Trundle replied that she felt herself quite equal to it, and that she had made
up her mind to go; upon which the doctor, who was a wise and discreet doctor,
and knew what was good for himself as well as for other people, said that
perhaps if Mrs. Trundle stopped at home she might hurt herself more by fretting,
than by going, so perhaps she had better go. And she did go; the doctor with
great attention sending in half a dozen of medicine, to be drunk upon the road.
    In addition to these points of distraction, Wardle was intrusted with two
small letters to two small young ladies who were to act as bridesmaids; upon the
receipt of which, the two young ladies were driven to despair by having no
things ready for so important an occasion, and no time to make them in - a
circumstance which appeared to afford the two worthy papas of the two small
young ladies rather a feeling of satisfaction than otherwise. However, old
frocks were trimmed, and new bonnets made, and the young ladies looked as well
as could possibly have been expected of them. And as they cried at the
subsequent ceremony in the proper places, and trembled at the right times, they
acquitted themselves to the admiration of all beholders.
    How the two poor relations ever reached London - whether they walked
