With and Amazement

The Story of the Gadsbys (4)

(notes edited by John McGivering)

Publication

First published in The Week’s News of 16 June 1888 (Martindell has 9 June).

The Story

It is Gadsby’s wedding day, and he is shaking with nerves. His friend Captain Mafflin takes command and gets him to the church in good order. Gadsby plights his troth to Minnie in the solemn old words of the Church of England’s Marriage Service, and when the deed is done he mounts his horse and pursues his bride’s carriage along a mountain road. Mafflin reflects that – in a phrase borrowed from Shakespeare – ‘a young man married is a young man marred’.

[J H McG]

©John McGivering 2005 All rights reserved