appy; his voice seemed
to imply a doubt. He shook hands with Jimmy and called him a lucky
dog; he spoke like a man who hardly realises what he is saying; he
shook hands with Sangster and hurried away.

They heard him creaking down the aisle of the church, and the following
slam of the heavy door behind him; there was a little awkward silence.

The clergyman was blotting Christine's new name in the register; he
looked up at her with short-sighted eyes, a quill pen held between his
teeth.

"Would you--er--care to have the pen, Mrs.--er--Challoner?"

He had a starchy voice and a starchy manner.

Christine was conscious of a sudden feeling of utter home-sickness;
everybody was so stiff and strange; even Jimmy--dearly as she loved
him--seemed somehow like a stranger in his smart coat and brand-new
tie, and with the refractory kink in his hair well flattened down by
brilliantine.

She wanted her mother; she wanted her mother desperately; she wanted to
be kissed and made much of by someone who really wanted her to be
happy. Tears smarted in her eyes, but she would not let them fall.
Her throat ached with repressed sobs as she took the brand-new quill
pen from the white hand extended to her, with a little shy:

"Thank you."

Sangster came forward.

"Shall I take care of it for you, Mrs. Challoner? We must tie a white
bow round it, shall we? You will like to keep it, I am sure."

Christine turned to him eagerly. He spoke so kindly; his eyes looked
at her with such sympathy. A big tear splashed down on the bosom of
her black frock.

She was all in black, poor little Christine, save for white gloves, and
some white flowers which Jimmy had sent her to carry. She tried to
smile and answer Sangster when he spoke to her, but the words died away
in her throat.

The gloomy London church depressed her; her own voice and Jimmy's had
echoed hollowly behind them as they made their responses; her hand had
shaken badly when she gave it to him to put on her wedding ring.

She was married now; she looked at Jimmy appealingly.

Jimmy was very flushed; when he spoke his voice sounded high and
reckless. Christine heard him asking Sangster to come and have some
lunch with them; he seemed most anxious that Sangster should come.
Christine listened with a queer little sinking at her heart; she had
wanted to be alone with Jimmy; she had so looked forward to this--their
first meal together as husband and wife; but she bravely h