That 's the men for you . It 's best to be prepared . '' But Mark did come , getting there the evening before our wedding day . And then a severe blow fell on Aunt Philippa . Word came from the manse that Mr. Bentwell had been suddenly summoned to Nova Scotia to his mother 's deathbed ; he had started that night . `` That 's the men for you , '' said Aunt Philippa bitterly . `` Never can depend on one of them , not even on a minister . What 's to be done now ? '' `` Get another minister , '' said Mark easily . `` Where 'll you get him ? '' demanded Aunt Philippa . `` The minister at Cliftonville is away on his vacation , and Mercer is vacant , and that leaves none nearer than town . It wo n't do to depend on a town minister being able to come . No , there 's no help for it . You 'll have to have that Methodist man . '' Aunt Philippa 's tone was tragic . Plainly she thought the ceremony would scarcely be legal if that Methodist man married us . But neither Mark nor I cared . We were too happy to be disturbed by any such trifles . The young Methodist minister married us the next day in the presence of many beaming guests .
Aunt XXXXX , splendid in black silk and point-lace collar , neither of which lost a whit of dignity or lustre by being made ten years before , was composure itself while the ceremony was going on .
Bentwell Cliftonville Mark Methodist Philippa Scotia before day night trifles