"Just at present I shall begin by copying things at the National Gallery," explained Houston, who was not as yet prepared with his answer to that difficulty as to a studio in the little house in Green Street.
When the matter had been carried as far as this it was manifest enough that anything like opposition to Imogene's marriage was to be withdrawn. Houston remained at Tregothnan for a couple of days and then returned to London. A week afterwards the Docimers followed him, and early in the following June the two lovers, after all their troubles and many vacillations, were made one at St George's church, to the great delight of Aunt Rosina. It cannot be said that the affair gave equal satisfaction to all the bridegroom's friends, as may be learnt from the following narration of two conversations which took place in London very shortly after the wedding.
"Fancy after all that fellow Houston going and marrying such a girl as Imogene Docimer, without a single blessed shilling to keep themselves alive." This was said in the smoking-room of Houston's club by Lord John Battledore to Tom Shuttlecock;but it was said quite aloud, so that Houston's various acquaintances might be enabled to offer their remarks on so interesting a subject;and to express their pity for the poor object of their commiseration.
"It's the most infernal piece of folly I ever heard in my life,"said Shuttlecock. "There was that Tringle girl with L#200,000to be had just for the taking -- Traffick's wife's sister, you know.""There was something wrong about that," said another. "Benjamin Batsby, that stupid fellow who used to be in the twentieth, ran off with her just when everything had been settled between Houston and old Tringle.""Not a bit of it," said Battledore. "Tringle had quarrelled with Houston before that. Batsby did go with her, but the governor wouldn't come down with the money. Then the girl was brought back and there was no marriage." Upon that the condition of poor Gertrude in reference to her lovers and her fortune was discussed by those present with great warmth; but they all agreed that Houston had proved himself to be a bigger fool than any of them had expected.
"By George, he's going to set up for painting portraits," said Lord John, with great disgust.
In Queen's Gate the matter was discussed by the ladies there very much in the same spirit. At this time Gertrude was engaged to Captain Batsby, if not with the full approbation at any rate with the consent both of her father and mother, and therefore she could speak of Frank Houston and his bride, if with disdain, still without wounded feelings. "Here it is in the papers, Francis Houston and Imogene Docimer," said Mrs Traffick.
"So she has really caught him at last!" said Gertrude.
"There was not much to catch," rejoined Mrs Traffick. "I doubt whether they have got L#500 a year between them.""It does seem so very sudden," said Lady Tringle.
"Sudden!" said Gertrude. "They have been about it for the last five years. Of course he has tried to wriggle out of it all through.
I am glad that she has succeeded at last, if only because he deserves it.""I wonder where they'll find a place to live in," said Augusta.
This took place in the bedroom which Mrs Traffick still occupied in Queen's Gate, when she had been just a month a mother.
Thus, with the kind assistance of Aunt Rosina, Frank Houston and Imogene Docimer were married at last, and the chronicler hereby expresses a hope that it may not be long before Frank may see a picture of his own hanging on the walls of the Academy, and that he may live to be afraid of the coming of no baby.
