shrinking on her part. The colour rushed to her
face--his darkened with an expression of uncontrollable pain. At least
so it appeared to one who never for a moment relaxed his watch--the
younger brother.

"Really," said Mr. Thornycroft, who, during the few minutes thus
occupied, had bustled in and out of the vestry--"really, are we never
intending to come home? Somebody must make a diversion here. Major
Harper, will you take my wife? Miss Valery, allow me."

This fortunate interference effected a change. All moved away a little
from the bridegroom, who was still standing by his wife's chair.

"Agatha--will you come?"

She mechanically rose; Mr. Harper drew her arm in his, and led her down
the aisle. There were a few stray lookers-on at the church-door, who
peered at them curiously. An inexplicable shadow hung over them. Never
were a newly-married couple more silent or more grave.

Only, as they stood on the entrance-steps that were wet with a past
shower of thunder-rain, and Agatha in her thin white shoes was walking
right on, her husband drew her back.

"It will not hurt me. Do let me go," she said.

"No, you must not; you are mine now," was the answer, with a look that
would have made the tone of control sound in any loving bride's ear the
sweetest ever heard.

He left Agatha in the church, and hurried a little in advance. His
brother and Mrs. Thomycroft were standing at the porch outside, Emma
laughing and whispering. And while waiting for the carriage, it so
chanced that Nathanael caught what they were saying.

"Why, Major Harper, you look as dull as if you had been in love with
Agatha yourself! And after what you confessed to me, I did positively
believe she was in love with you."

"Agatha in love with me! really you flatter me," said Major Harper,
looking down and tapping his boot, with his own self-complacent,
regretful smile.

"I did indeed think it, from her agitation when I hinted at such a
thing. And I never was more amazed in my life than when she told me she
was going to marry your brother. I do hope, poor dear Agatha"--

"Don't speak of her," cried Major Harper, in a burst of real emotion.
"And she liked me so well, poor child! Oh, I wish to Heaven I had
married her, and saved her from"--

Here a voice was heard calling "Mr. Harper--Mr. Harper," but the
bridegroom was nowhere to be seen. Some one--not her husband--put Agatha
into the carriage. Several minutes after, Nathanael appeared.