Presently Mr. Curphy, my father's advocate, came in, rather irritatingly
cheerful in that chill atmosphere, and, half an hour late, my intended
husband arrived, with his London lawyer and his friend Eastcliff.

My mind was far from clear and I had a sense of seeing things by flashes
only, but I remember that I thought Lord Raa was very nervous, and it
even occurred to me that early as it was he had been drinking.

"Beastly nuisance, isn't it?" he said to me aside, and then there was
something about "this legal fuss and fuddlement."

With the air of a man with a grievance the High Bailiff took a big book
out of the desk, and a smaller one off a shelf, and then we sat in a
half circle, and the ceremony began.

It was very brief and cold like a matter of business. As far as I can
remember it consisted of two declarations which Lord Raa and I made
first to the witnesses present and afterwards to each other. One of them
stated that we knew of no lawful impediment why we should not be joined
together in matrimony, and the other declared that we were there and
then so joined.

I remember that I repeated the words automatically, as the High Bailiff
in his thick alcoholic voice read them out of the smaller of his books,
and that Lord Raa, in tones of obvious impatience, did the same.

Then the High Bailiff opened the bigger of his books, and after writing
something in it himself he asked Lord Raa to sign his name, and this
being done he asked me also.

"Am I to sign, too?" I asked, vacantly.

"Well, who else do you think?" said Mr. Curphy with a laugh. "Betsy
Beauty perhaps, eh?"

"Come, gel, come," said my father, sharply, and then I signed.

I had no longer any will of my own. In this as in everything I did
whatever was asked of me.

It was all as dreary and lifeless as an empty house. I can remember that
it made no sensible impression upon my heart. My father gave some money
(a few shillings I think) to the High Bailiff, who then tore a piece of
perforated blue paper out of the bigger of his books and offered it to
me, saying:

"This belongs to you."

"To me?" I said.

"Who else?" said Mr. Curphy, who was laughing again, and then something
was said by somebody about marriage lines and no one knowing when a wise
woman might not want to use them.

The civil ceremony of my marriage was now over, and Lord Raa, who had
been very restless, rose to his feet, saying:

"Beastly early drive. Anything in the house to