drew nearer, louder, and
merrier. The bells in the tower began to break forth into a doubling
peal, and a greater and greater concourse of people to crowd into the
church, shuffling the snow from off their feet, and clapping and blowing
in their hands. The western door was flung wide open, showing a glimpse
of sunlit, snowy street, and admitting in a great gust the shrewd air of
the morning; and in short, it became plain by every sign that Lord
Shoreby desired to be married very early in the day, and that the
wedding-train was drawing near.

Some of Lord Shoreby's men now cleared a passage down the middle aisle,
forcing the people back with lance-stocks; and just then, outside the
portal, the secular musicians could be descried drawing near over the
frozen snow, the fifers and trumpeters scarlet in the face with lusty
blowing, the drummers and the cymbalists beating as for a wager.

These, as they drew near the door of the sacred building, filed off on
either side, and, marking time to their own vigorous music, stood
stamping in the snow. As they thus opened their ranks, the leaders of
this noble bridal train appeared behind and between them; and such was
the variety and gaiety of their attire, such the displays of silk and
velvet, fur and satin, embroidery and lace, that the procession showed
forth upon the snow like a flower-bed in a path or a painted window in a
wall.

First came the bride, a sorry sight, as pale as winter, clinging to Sir
Daniel's arm, and attended, as bridesmaid, by the short young lady who
had befriended Dick the night before. Close behind, in the most radiant
toilet, followed the bridegroom, halting on a gouty foot; and as he
passed the threshold of the sacred building and doffed his hat, his bald
head was seen to be rosy with emotion.

And now came the hour of Ellis Duckworth.

Dick, who sat stunned among contrary emotions, grasping the desk in
front of him, beheld a movement in the crowd, people jostling backward,
and eyes and arms uplifted. Following these signs, he beheld three or
four men with bent bows, leaning from the clerestory gallery. At the
same instant they delivered their discharge, and before the clamour and
cries of the astounded populace had time to swell fully upon the ear,
they had flitted from their perch and disappeared.

The nave was full of swaying heads and voices screaming; the
ecclesiastics thronged in terror from their places; the music ceased,
and though the bel