Four weddings and a funeral

[...]... wonderful that they can Now, back to Angus and those sheep!' 10 11 • Everybody laughs and claps, and then Charles asks them to raise their glasses and drink to Angus and Laura • After the formal dinner and speeches, it's time to dance The band plays, and Laura and Angus as bride and groom are the first to come out on to the dance floor Laura enjoys herself, and dances in a very lively manner, but Angus moves... that's a big lie,' says Carrie, and she walks away 'Hell!'says Charles The band has stopped playing, but the bride's sister and boyfriend are back with their guitar Only four people are trying to dance now to their music, which is not very lively Others are kissing, and a few really drunk people have fallen asleep One of the pairs that are kissing is Bernard and Lydia They are kissing very enthusiastically,... Charles 'Not too mad at the moment.' • 'Ladies and gentleman,' says the best man 'The bride and groom!' Hamish and Carrie dance together in the middle of the room It's a formal Scottish dance and everybody claps them Charles and Fiona watch the happy couple with the other guests Fiona puts her hand on Charles's shoulder and looks at him She can see that he looks sad 'You like this girl, don't you Charles?'... weddings "One day I shall probably have a funeral, " he said, "but a wedding — never!'" People smile and begin to feel a little bit more comfortable 'I rang a few people and asked them about Gareth What did they think about him? What comes into their minds when they hear his name? Well, a lot of people said, "Fat." And a lot more said "Terribly rude." So "very fat and very rude" was the way that strangers described... signs 'That's a really poor excuse,' David replies 'Who's she marrying?' They can now have a secret conversation, because Carrie doesn't understand sign language 'A real fool,' says Charles 'How does a fool find a beautiful wife like her?' asks David Carrie is waiting for a translation 'Yes, I'm just telling David that you're marrying Hamish "What a lucky man!" he said to me.' 'Didn't you make love... somebody nice at a wedding — are there men who could ask a girl to go out with them at once? On the same day, I mean?' 'If there are,' said Matthew, 'they're not English.' 'Exactly!' said Charles 'I mean — it usually takes me about three weeks to ask.' By about nine o'clock, it's getting dark, and the bride and groom are almost ready to leave Laura has drunk a lot by now, and she is enthusiastically kissing... come from a rich family It is raining and grey, and everyone looks very sad It is a big contrast to the three wonderful weddings Matthew and Gareth's family are driven to the church in a large black car In front of them is the car with Gareth's coffin Charles arrives at the church and sits down next to Fiona, putting his arm around her Carrie is there too, quiet and whitefaced at the back The atmosphere... He can see Carrie on another table She's laughing with Matthew and Gareth Charles would much rather be at their table Alistair seems to be giving them all a lesson on tea 'There are about four hundred different kinds of tea, and all the fruit teas as 'Did I really say that?' asks Charles quickly 'No I don't think so - ' 'Oh come on, Charles,' says Martha, who is old girlfriend number three at the table... at him one last time Chapter 4 The Third Wedding You are invited to the wedding of Hamish and Carrie on September 28th, in the church at Glenthrist Castle, Perthshire, Scotland It is already a cold, wet autumn in Scotland by the time of Hamish and Carrie's wedding The mountains and lakes look very beautiful but also very gloomy and grey Charles arrives late — as usual — and tries to change quickly... is one of them — and some clap, but there are a few straight faces 'But of course I'm here today to talk about Angus, and he has nothing to hide, has he? Well, that's what I thought at first ' People are still laughing, as Charles becomes serious for a moment 'I'd like to say that I do think very highly of people who get married, like Angus and Laura Marriage is a big step to take, and I know I couldn't . way to Angus and Laura's wedding already! Charles is always late, and he is always going to weddings. But they are always other people's weddings, . Everybody laughs and claps, and then Charles asks them to raise their glasses and drink to Angus and Laura. • After the formal dinner and speeches, it's