any ornaments of different devices, all of silver, and
which, as she walked, rang like bells. Nothing can be more ungraceful
than such a dress, which, however, Alete wore with grace. When she
appeared, a cry of admiration escaped from every mouth, and the
spectators' eyes turned involuntarily to Eric to congratulate him.

Alete took her father's arm to walk to the church, and the guests
followed her. At the head of the procession were musicians, playing the
flute and violin; next came about thirty young girls, two by two, in
their richest dresses; then the guests and the women and children of the
village.

After the ceremony, the young girls stood on each side of the altar; the
bridegroom advanced to the altar; then the bride was led thither by her
father, who handed her to Eric, and withdrew a few paces, as if he thus
transferred to another all his own rights. The old pastor then, with an
earnest voice and with tears in his eyes, pronounced the nuptial
benediction, and gave his children a touching exhortation. A religious
chant terminated the ceremonies, and the couple left the church amid the
sound of horns and the firing of guns. On their return home, M. de
Vermondans, after an old custom, handed each a glass of beer, which they
drank at the same time, as if to show that thenceforth all was common
between them.

Dinner was soon served. The newly-married people sat side by side under a
canopy, prepared as if to shelter their happiness. At the end of the
repast a carpet was spread representing the nuptial bed. The two knelt
together, and the company sang a hymn. Then the priest, speaking to the
company, invoked every blessing on the couple about to enter a new walk
of life, and bespoke the kind wishes of all their friends. He asked every
guest to give them some token of sympathy, and no one sought to avoid
this invitation. Each one paid tribute: relations gave the married couple
a sum of money; their friends gave them furniture, stuffs, and jewels. In
similar cases, at peasants houses, corn, wool, etc., utensils of
household use, are presented, so that often the house of the
newly-married couple is provided for a long time with provisions in this
manner. It is however true, that they are dearly purchased by the
hospitality they have to extend for a long time to many guests.

From the house of M. de Vermondans the guests went to that of the Pastor,
where similar festivals were gone through with. Alete remained there,