made with the greatest
simplicity--a lace veil, priceless in value and fine as gossamer,
draped her from head to foot--the jewels I had given her flashed about
her like scintillating points of light, in her hair, at her waist, on
her breast and uncovered arms.

Being as she deemed herself, a widow, she had no bride-maids; her train
was held up by a handsome boy clad in the purple and gold costume of a
sixteenth century page--he was the youngest son of the Duke di Marina.
Two tiny girls of five and six years of age went before, strewing white
roses and lilies, and stepping daintily backward as though in
attendance on a queen; they looked like two fairies who had slipped out
of a midnight dream, in their little loose gowns of gold-colored plush,
with wreaths of meadow daffodils on their tumbled curly hair. They had
been well trained by Nina herself, for on arrival at the altar they
stood demurely, one on each side of her, the pretty page occupying his
place behind, and still holding up the end of the velvet train with a
charming air of hauteur and self-complacency.

The whole cortege was a picture in its way, as Nina had meant it to be:
she was fond of artistic effects. She smiled languishingly upon me as
she reached the altar, and sunk on her knees beside me in prayer. The
music swelled forth with redoubled grandeur, the priests and acolytes
appeared, the marriage service commenced. As I placed the ring on the
book I glanced furtively at the bride; her fair head was bent
demurely--she seemed absorbed in holy meditations. The priest having
performed the ceremony of sprinkling it with holy water, I took it
back, and set it for the second time on my wife's soft white little
hand--set it in accordance with the Catholic ritual, first on the
thumb, then on the second finger, then on the third, and lastly on the
fourth, where I left it in its old place, wondering as I did so, and
murmured, "In Nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen!" whether
she recognized it as the one she had worn so long! But it was evident
she did not; her calm was unbroken by even so much as a start or
tremor; she had the self-possession of a perfectly satisfied,
beautiful, vain, and utterly heartless woman.

The actual ceremony of marriage was soon over; then followed the Mass,
in which we, the newly-wedded pair, were compelled, in submission to
the rule of the Church, to receive the Sacrament. I shuddered as the
venerable priest gave me the