ompaniment of joy.

The Dean, standing near the table, placed his finger upon the open book,
and asked in a distinct voice whether they knew of any impediment to
their union.

There was no reply.

"Amen!" said the Dean.

Caudray and Deruchette advanced a step or two towards the table.

"Joseph Ebenezer Caudray, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded
wife?"

Caudray replied "I will."

The Dean continued:

"Durande Deruchette Lethierry, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded
husband?"

Deruchette, in an agony of soul, springing from her excess of happiness,
murmured rather than uttered--

"I will."

Then followed the beautiful form of the Anglican marriage service. The
Dean looked around, and in the twilight of the church uttered the solemn
words:

"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

Gilliatt answered, "I do!"

There was an interval of silence. Caudray and Deruchette felt a vague
sense of oppression in spite of their joy.

The Dean placed Deruchette's right hand in Caudray's; and Caudray
repeated after him:

"I take thee, Durande Deruchette to be my wedded wife, for better for
worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish till death do us part; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

The Dean then placed Caudray's right hand in that of Deruchette, and
Deruchette said after him:

"I take thee to be my wedded husband for better for worse, for richer
for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death
do us part; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

The Dean asked, "Where is the ring?" The question took them by surprise.
Caudray had no ring; but Gilliatt took off the gold ring which he wore
upon his little finger. It was probably the wedding-ring which had been
sold that morning by the jeweller in the Commercial Arcade.

The Dean placed the ring upon the book; then handed it to Caudray, who
took Deruchette's little trembling left hand, passed the ring over her
fourth finger, and said:

"With this ring I thee wed!"

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,"
continued the Dean.

"Amen," said his evangelist.

Then the Dean said, "Let us pray."

Caudray and Deruchette turned towards the table, and knelt down.

Gilliatt, standing by, inclined his head.

So they knelt before God; while he seemed to bend under the burden of
his fate.

IV

FOR YOUR WIFE: WHEN YOU MARRY

As they left