When my lord and lady are
so engaged I prefer not to call at their mansion, Number 1000 in
Grosvenor Square, but to partake of a dinner of herbs rather than of that
stalled ox which their cook is roasting whole. There are some people who
are not so squeamish. The family comes, of course; the Most Reverend the
Lord Arch-Brahmin of Benares will attend the ceremony; there will be
flowers and lights and white favours; and quite a string of carriages up
to the pagoda; and such a breakfast afterwards; and music in the street
and little parish boys hurrahing; and no end of speeches within and tears
shed (no doubt), and His Grace the Arch-Brahmin will make a highly
appropriate speech, just with a faint scent of incense about it as such a
speech ought to have; and the young person will slip away unperceived,
and take off her veils, wreaths, orange-flowers, bangles and finery, and
will put on a plain dress more suited for the occasion, and the
house-door will open--and there comes the SUTTEE in company of the body:
yonder the pile is waiting on four wheels with four horses, the crowd
hurrahs and the deed is done.
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