people to attend
to the business, but anxious to see the end. The other three sat in
silence, with their eyes upon their knees, though the clouds were
dispersing, and the morning grew bright. In about twenty minutes the
square unembattled tower of Knollsea Church appeared below them in the
vale, its summit just touching the distant line of sea upon sky. The
element by which they had been victimized on the previous evening now
smiled falsely to the low morning sun.

They descended the road to the village at a little more mannerly pace
than that of the earlier journey, and saw the rays glance upon the hands
of the church clock, which marked five-and-twenty minutes to nine.

45. KNOLLSEA--THE ROAD THENCE--ENCKWORTH

All eyes were directed to the church-gate, as the travellers descended
the hill. No wedding carriages were there, no favours, no slatternly
group of women brimming with interest, no aged pauper on two sticks, who
comes because he has nothing else to do till dying time, no nameless
female passing by on the other side with a laugh of indifference, no
ringers taking off their coats as they vanish up a turret, no
hobbledehoys on tiptoe outside the chancel windows--in short, none
whatever of the customary accessories of a country wedding was anywhere
visible.

'Thank God!' said Chickerel.

'Wait till you know he deserves it,' said Mountclere.

'Nothing's done yet between them.'

'It is not likely that anything is done at this time of day. But I have
decided to go to the church first. You will probably go to your
relative's house at once?'

Sol looked to his father for a reply.

'No, I too shall go to the church first, just to assure myself,' said
Chickerel. 'I shall then go on to Mrs Petherwin's.'

The carriage was stopped at the corner of a steep incline leading down to
the edifice. Mountclere and Chickerel alighted and walked on towards the
gates, Sol remaining in his place. Christopher was some way off,
descending the hill on foot, having halted to leave his horse and trap at
a small inn at the entrance to the village.

When Chickerel and Mountclere reached the churchyard gate they found it
slightly open. The church-door beyond it was also open, but nobody was
near the spot.

'We have arrived not a minute too soon, however,' said Mountclere.
'Preparations have apparently begun. It was to be an early wedding, no
doubt.'

Entering the building, they looked around; it was quite em