"IN THE FACE OF THIS CONGREGATION"
The society paragraphs would have described it as "a very quiet
wedding," when Garth and Jane, a few days later, were pronounced "man
and wife together," in the little Episcopal church among the hills.
Perhaps, to those who were present, it stands out rather as an unusual
wedding, than as a quiet one.
To Garth and Jane the essential thing was to be married, and left to
themselves, with as little delay as possible. They could not be induced
to pay any attention to details as to the manner in which this desired
end was to be attained. Jane left it entirely to the doctor, in one
practical though casual sentence: "Just make sure it is valid, Dicky;
and send us in the bills."
The duchess, being a true conservative, early began mentioning veils,
orange-blossom, and white satin; but Jane said: "My dear Aunt! Fancy
me--in orange-blossom! I should look like a Christmas pantomime. And I
never wear veils, even in motors; and white satin is a form of clothing
I have always had the wisdom to avoid."
"Then in what do you intend to be married, unnatural girl?" inquired
the duchess.
"In whatever I happen to put on, that morning," replied Jane, knotting
the silk of a soft crimson cord she was knitting; and glancing out of
the window, to where Garth sat smoking, on the terrace.
"Have you a time-table?" inquired her Grace of Meldrum, with dangerous
calmness. "And can you send me to the station this afternoon?"
"We can always send to the station, at a moment's notice," said Jane,
working in a golden strand, and considering the effect. "But where are
you going, dear Aunt 'Gina? You know Deryck and Flower arrive this
evening."
"I am washing my hands of you, and going South," said the duchess,
wrathfully.
"Don't do that, dear," said Jane, placidly. "You have washed your hands
of me so often; and, like the blood of King Duncan of Scotland, I am
upon them still. 'All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this
little hand.'" Then, raising her voice: "Garth, if you want to walk,
just give a call. I am here, talking over my trousseau with Aunt 'Gina."
"What is a trousseau?" came back in Garth's happy voice.
"A thing you get into to be married," said Jane.
"Then let's get into it quickly," shouted Garth, with enthusiasm.
"Dear Aunt," said Jane, "let us make a compromise. I have some quite
nice clothes upstairs, including Redfern tailor-mades, and several
uniforms. Let your maid look through them, and whatever you select, and
she puts out in readiness on my wedding morning, I promise to wear."
This resulted in Jane appearing at the church in a long blue cloth coat
and skirt, handsomely embroidered with gold, and suiting her large
figure to perfection; a deep yellow vest of brocaded silk; and old lace
ruffles at neck and wrists.
Garth was as anxious about his wedding garments, as Jane had been
indifferent over hers; but he had so often been in requisition as
best-man at town weddings, that Simpson had no difficulty in turning
him out in the acme of correct bridal attire. And very handsome he
looked, as he stood waiting at the chancel steps; not watching for his
bride; but obviously listening for her; for, as Jane came up the church
on Deryck's arm, Garth slightly turned his head and smiled.
The duchess--resplendent in purple satin and ermine, with white plumes
in her bonnet, and many jewelled chains depending from her, which
rattled and tinkled, in the silence of the church, every time she
moved--was in a front pew on the left, ready to give her niece away.
In a corresponding seat, on the opposite side, as near as possible to
the bridegroom, sat Margery Graem, in black silk, with a small quilted
satin bonnet, and a white lawn kerchief folded over the faithful old
heart which had beaten in tenderness for Garth since his babyhood. She
turned her head anxiously, every time the duchess jingled; but
otherwise kept her eyes fixed on the marriage service, in a large-print
prayer-book in her lap. Margery was not used to the Episcopal service,
and she had her "doots" as to whether it could possibly be gone through
correctly, by all parties concerned. In fact this anxiety of old
Margery's increased so painfully when the ceremony actually commenced,
that it took audible form; and she repeated all the answers of the
bridal pair, in an impressive whisper, after them.
Dr. Rob, being the only available bachelor, did duty as best-man; Jane
having stipulated that he should not be intrusted with the ring; her
previous observations leading her to conclude that he would most
probably slip it unconsciously on to his finger, and then search
through all his own pockets and all Garth's; and begin taking up the
church matting, before it occurred to him to look at his hand. Jane
would not have minded the diversion, but she did object to any delay.
So the ring went to church in Garth's waistcoat pocket, where it had
lived since Jane brought it out from Aberdeen; and, without any
fumbling or hesitation, was quietly laid by him upon the open book.
Dr. Rob had charge of the fees for clerk, verger, bell-ringers, and
every person, connected with the church, who could possibly have a tip
pressed upon them.
Garth was generous in his gladness, and eager to do all things in a
manner worthy of the great gift made fully his that day. So Dr. Rob was
well provided with the wherewithal; and this he jingled in his pockets
as soon as the exhortation commenced, and his interest in the
proceedings resulted in his fatal habit of unconsciousness of his own
actions. Thus he and the duchess kept up a tinkling duet, each hearing
the other, and not their own sounds. So the duchess glared at Dr. Rob;
and Dr. Rob frowned at the duchess; and old Margery looked tearfully at
both.
Deryck Brand, the tallest man in the church, his fine figure showing to
advantage in the long frock coat with silk facings, which Lady Brand
had pronounced indispensable to the occasion, retired to a seat beside
his wife, just behind old Margery, as soon as he had conducted Jane to
Garth's side. As Jane removed her hand from his arm, she turned and
smiled at him; and a long look passed between them. All the memories,
all the comprehension, all the trust and affection of years, seemed to
concentrate in that look; and Lady Brand's eyes dropped to her dainty
white and gold prayer-book. She had never known jealousy; the doctor
had never given her any possible reason for acquiring that cruel
knowledge. His Flower bloomed for him; and her fragrance alone made his
continual joy. All other lovely women were mere botanical specimens, to
be examined and classified. But Flower had never quite understood the
depth of the friendship between her husband and Jane, founded on the
associations and aspirations of childhood and early youth, and a
certain similarity of character which would not have wedded well, but
which worked out into a comradeship, providing a source of strength for
both. Of late, Flower had earnestly tried to share, even while failing
to comprehend, it.
Perhaps she, in her pale primrose gown, with daffodils at her waist,
and sunbeams in her golden hair, was the most truly bridal figure in
the church. As the doctor turned from the bride, and sought his place
beside her in the pew, he looked at the sweet face, bent so demurely
over the prayer-book, and thought he had never seen his wife look more
entrancingly lovely. Unconsciously his hand strayed to the white
rosebud she had fastened in his coat as they strolled round the
conservatory together that morning. Flower, glancing up, surprised his
look. She did not think it right to smile in church; but a delicate
wave of colour swept over her face, and her cheek leaned as near the
doctor's shoulder, as the size of her hat would allow. Flower felt
quite certain that was a look the doctor had never given Jane.
The service commenced. The short-sighted clergyman, very nervous, and
rather overwhelmed by the unusual facts of a special license, a blind
bridegroom, and the reported presence of a duchess, began reading very
fast, in an undertone, which old Margery could not follow, though her
finger, imprisoned in unwonted kid, hurried along the lines. Then
conscious of his mistake, he slowed down, and became too impressive;
making long nerve-straining pauses, fled in by the tinkling of the
duchess, and the chinking in Dr. Rob's trousers-pockets.
Thus they arrived at the demand upon the congregation, if they could
show any just cause why these two persons might not lawfully be joined
together, NOW to speak--and the pause here was so long, and so
over-powering, that old Margery said "nay"; and then gave a nervous
sob. The bridegroom turned and smiled in the direction of the voice;
and the doctor, leaning forward, laid his hand on the trembling
shoulder, and whispered: "Steady, old friend. It is all right."
There was no pause whatever after the solemn charge to the couple; so
if Garth and Jane had any secrets to disclose, they had perforce to
keep them for after discussion.
Then Jane found her right hand firmly clasped in Garth's; and no
inadequacy of the Church's mouth-piece could destroy the exquisite
beauty of the Church's words, in which Garth was asked if he would take
her to be his own.
To this, Garth, and old Margery, said they would; with considerable
display of emotion.
Then the all-comprehensive question was put to Jane; the Church seeming
to remind her gently, that she took him in his blindness, with all
which that might entail.
Jane said: "I will"; and the deep, tender voice, was the voice of The
Rosary.
When the words were uttered, Garth lifted the hand he held, and
reverently kissed it.
This was not in the rubric, and proved disconcerting to the clergyman.
He threw up his head suddenly, and inquired: "Who giveth this woman to
be married to this man?" And as, for the moment, there was no response,
he repeated, the question wildly; gazing into distant corners of the
church.
Then the duchess, who up to that time had been feeling a little bored,
realised that her moment had come, and rejoiced. She sailed out of her
pew, and advanced to the chancel step. "My dear good man," she said;
"_I_ give my niece away; having come north at considerable
inconvenience for that express purpose. Now, go on. What do we do next?"
Dr. Rob broke into an uncontrollable chuckle. The duchess lifted her
lorgnette, and surveyed him. Margery searched her prayer-book in vain
for the duchess's response. It did not appear to be there.
Flower looked in distressed appeal at the doctor. But the doctor was
studying, with grave intentness, a stencilled pattern on the chancel
roof; and paid no attention to Flower's nudge.
The only people completely unconscious of anything unusual in the order
of proceedings appeared to be the bride and bridegroom. They were
taking each other "in the sight of God, and in the face of this
congregation." They were altogether absorbed in each other, standing
together in the sight of God; and the deportment of "this congregation"
was a matter they scarcely noticed. "People always behave grotesquely
at weddings," Jane had said to Garth, beforehand; "and ours will be no
exception to the general rule. But we can close our eyes, and stand
together in Sightless Land; and Deryck will take care it is valid."
"Not in Sightless Land, my beloved," said Garth; "but in the Land where
they need no candle neither light of the sun. However, and wherever, I
take YOU as my wife, I shall be standing on the summit of God's heaven."
So they stood; and in their calmness the church hushed to silence. The
service proceeded; and the minister, who had not known how to keep them
from clasping hands when the rubric did not require it, found no
difficulty in inducing them to do so again.
So they took each other--these two, who were so deeply each other's
already--solemnly, reverently, tenderly, in the sight of God, they took
each other, according to God's holy ordinance; and the wedding ring,
type of that eternal love which has neither beginning nor ending,
passed from Garth's pocket, over the Holy Book, on to Jane's finger.
When it was over, she took his arm; and leaning upon it, so that he
could feel she leaned, guided him to the vestry.
Afterwards, in the brougham, for those few precious minutes, when
husband and wife find themselves alone for the first time, Garth turned
to Jane with an eager naturalness, which thrilled her heart as no
studied speech could have done. He did not say: "My wife." That unique
moment had been theirs, three years before.
"Dearest," he said, "how soon will they all go? How soon shall we be
quite alone? Oh, why couldn't they drive to the station from the
church?"
Jane looked at her watch. "Because we must lunch them, dear," she said.
"Think how good they have all been. And we could not start our married
life by being inhospitable. It is just one o'clock; and we ordered
luncheon at half-past. Their train leaves the station at half-past
four. In three hours, Garth, we shall be alone."
"Shall I be able to behave nicely for three hours?" exclaimed Garth,
boyishly.
"You must," said Jane, "or I shall fetch Nurse Rosemary."
"Oh hush!" he said. "All that is too precious, to-day, for chaff.
Jane"--he turned suddenly, and laid his hand on hers--"Jane! Do you
understand that you are now--actually--my wife?"
Jane took his hand, and held it against her heart, just where she so
often had pressed her own, when she feared he would hear it throbbing.
"My darling," she said, "I do not understand it. But I know--ah, thank
God!--I know it to be true."