“The mill-man’s daughter was to be married to-day. We arose early, and walked to a coign of vantage to see the bride and bridegroom pass, for we had been let into the secret of the hour and the day, for it is difficult to find out anything about a wedding in Norfolk. It is the custom to keep everything a secret until within a few days of the ceremony, when brothers and sisters and friends are invited to dinner for the day–that is all. The road leading to the church was decorated with red handkerchiefs fastened to ash poles, for it is customary for every one to be married at the church, devout Dissenters though they be. Presently a spring cart drove along with the bride, bridegroom, and best man, followed by another cart loaded with bridesmaids. Towards dinner-time friends began to collect at the mill, for the dinner is the feast of the day, after which the wedding will be kept up till the next morning.”⎯On English Lagoons, p. 241

Although we may never know the identity of this “Daughter of the Marshland”, Emerson does recount a Norfolk wedding on his voyages for June 9, 1891 in the above quotation. It might not be out of place to think this young woman may be the bride herself: wearing a hat adorned with feathers plucked from Broadland birds. This plate appears opposite the start of Chapter XLII: Frolics on Somerton Broad.