CHAPTER XXXVII
"IN THE FACE OF THIS CONGREGATION"
The society paragraphs would have described it as "a very quietwedding," when Garth and Jane, a few days later, were pronounced "manand wife together," in the little Episcopal church among the hills.
Perhaps, to those who were present, it stands out rather as an unusualwedding, than as a quiet one.
To Garth and Jane the essential thing was to be married, and left tothemselves, with as little delay as possible. They could not be inducedto pay any attention to details as to the manner in which this desiredend was to be attained. Jane left it entirely to the doctor, in onepractical 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! Fancyme--in orange-blossom! I should look like a Christmas pantomime. And Inever wear veils, even in motors; and white satin is a form of clothingI have always had the wisdom to avoid."
"Then in what do you intend to be married, unnatural girl?" inquiredthe duchess.
"In whatever I happen to put on, that morning," replied Jane, knottingthe silk of a soft crimson cord she was knitting; and glancing out ofthe window, to where Garth sat smoking, on the terrace.
"Have you a time-table?" inquired her Grace of Meldrum, with dangerouscalmness. "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 areyou going, dear Aunt 'Gina? You know Deryck and Flower arrive thisevening."
"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 handsof me so often; and, like the blood of King Duncan of Scotland, I amupon them still. 'All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten thislittle 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 quitenice clothes upstairs, including Redfern tailor-mades, and severaluniforms. Let your maid look through them, and whatever you select, andshe 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 coatand skirt, handsomely embroidered with gold, and suiting her largefigure to perfection; a deep yellow vest of brocaded silk; and old laceruffles at neck and wrists.
Garth was as anxious about his wedding garments, as Jane had beenindifferent over hers; but he had so often been in requisition asbest-man at town weddings, that Simpson had no difficulty in turninghim out in the acme of correct bridal attire. And very handsome helooked, as he stood waiting at the chancel steps; not watching for hisbride; but obviously listening for her; for, as Jane came up the churchon Deryck's arm, Garth slightly turned his head and smiled.
The duchess--resplendent in purple satin and ermine, with white plumesin her bonnet, and many jewelled chains depending from her, whichrattled and tinkled, in the silence of the church, every time shemoved--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 tothe bridegroom, sat Margery Graem, in black silk, with a small quiltedsatin bonnet, and a white lawn kerchief folded over the faithful oldheart which had beaten in tenderness for Garth since his babyhood. Sheturned her head anxiously, every time the duchess jingled; butotherwise kept her eyes fixed on the marriage service, in a large-printprayer-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 throughcorrectly, by all parties concerned. In fact this anxiety of oldMargery's increased so painfully when the ceremony actually commenced,that it took audible form; and she repeated all the answers of thebridal pair, in an impressive whisper, after them.
Dr. Rob, being the only available bachelor, did duty as best-man; Janehaving stipulated that he should not be intrusted with the ring; herprevious observations leading her to conclude that he would mostprobably slip it unconsciously on to his finger, and then searchthrough all his own pockets and all Garth's; and begin taking up thechurch matting, before it occurred to him to look at his hand. Janewould 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 hadlived since Jane brought it out from Aberdeen; and, without anyfumbling or hesitation, was quietly laid by him upon the open book.
Dr. Rob had charge of the fees for clerk, verger, bell-ringers, andevery person, connected with the church, who could possibly have a tippressed upon them.
Garth was generous in his gladness, and eager to do all things in amanner worthy of the great gift made fully his that day. So Dr. Rob waswell provided with the wherewithal; and this he jingled in his pocketsas soon as the exhortation commenced, and his interest in theproceedings resulted in his fatal habit of unconsciousness of his ownactions. Thus he and the duchess kept up a tinkling duet, each hearingthe 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 atboth.
Deryck Brand, the tallest man in the church, his fine figure showing toadvantage in the long frock coat with silk facings, which Lady Brandhad pronounced indispensable to the occasion, retired to a seat besidehis wife, just behind old Margery, as soon as he had conducted Jane toGarth's side. As Jane removed her hand from his arm, she turned andsmiled at him; and a long look passed between them. All the memories,all the comprehension, all the trust and affection of years, seemed toconcentrate in that look; and Lady Brand's eyes dropped to her daintywhite and gold prayer-book. She had never known jealousy; the doctorhad never given her any possible reason for acquiring that cruelknowledge. His Flower bloomed for him; and her fragrance alone made hiscontinual joy. All other lovely women were mere botanical specimens, tobe examined and classified. But Flower had never quite understood thedepth of the friendship between her husband and Jane, founded on theassociations and aspirations of childhood and early youth, and acertain similarity of character which would not have wedded well, butwhich worked out into a comradeship, providing a source of strength forboth. Of late, Flower had earnestly tried to share, even while failingto 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 inthe church. As the doctor turned from the bride, and sought his placebeside her in the pew, he looked at the sweet face, bent so demurelyover the prayer-book, and thought he had never seen his wife look moreentrancingly lovely. Unconsciously his hand strayed to the whiterosebud she had fastened in his coat as they strolled round theconservatory together that morning. Flower, glancing up, surprised hislook. She did not think it right to smile in church; but a delicatewave of colour swept over her face, and her cheek leaned as near thedoctor's shoulder, as the size of her hat would allow. Flower feltquite certain that was a look the doctor had never given Jane.
The service commenced. The short-sighted clergyman, very nervous, andrather overwhelmed by the unusual facts of a special license, a blindbridegroom, and the reported presence of a duchess, began reading veryfast, in an undertone, which old Margery could not follow, though herfinger, imprisoned in unwonted kid, hurried along the lines. Thenconscious of his mistake, he slowed down, and became too impressive;making long nerve-straining pauses, fled in by the tinkling of theduchess, and the chinking in Dr. Rob's trousers-pockets.
Thus they arrived at the demand upon the congregation, if they couldshow any just cause why these two persons might not lawfully be joinedtogether, NOW to speak--and the pause here was so long, and soover-
powering, that old Margery said "nay"; and then gave a nervoussob. The bridegroom turned and smiled in the direction of the voice;and the doctor, leaning forward, laid his hand on the tremblingshoulder, and whispered: "Steady, old friend. It is all right."
There was no pause whatever after the solemn charge to the couple; soif Garth and Jane had any secrets to disclose, they had perforce tokeep them for after discussion.
Then Jane found her right hand firmly clasped in Garth's; and noinadequacy of the Church's mouth-piece could destroy the exquisitebeauty of the Church's words, in which Garth was asked if he would takeher to be his own.
To this, Garth, and old Margery, said they would; with considerabledisplay of emotion.
Then the all-comprehensive question was put to Jane; the Church seemingto remind her gently, that she took him in his blindness, with allwhich that might entail.
Jane said: "I will"; and the deep, tender voice, was the voice of TheRosary.
When the words were uttered, Garth lifted the hand he held, andreverently 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 tobe married to this man?" And as, for the moment, there was no response,he repeated, the question wildly; gazing into distant corners of thechurch.
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 herpew, and advanced to the chancel step. "My dear good man," she said;"_I_ give my niece away; having come north at considerableinconvenience for that express purpose. Now, go on. What do we do next?"
Dr. Rob broke into an uncontrollable chuckle. The duchess lifted herlorgnette, and surveyed him. Margery searched her prayer-book in vainfor the duchess's response. It did not appear to be there.
Flower looked in distressed appeal at the doctor. But the doctor wasstudying, with grave intentness, a stencilled pattern on the chancelroof; and paid no attention to Flower's nudge.
The only people completely unconscious of anything unusual in the orderof proceedings appeared to be the bride and bridegroom. They weretaking each other "in the sight of God, and in the face of thiscongregation." They were altogether absorbed in each other, standingtogether in the sight of God; and the deportment of "this congregation"was a matter they scarcely noticed. "People always behave grotesquelyat weddings," Jane had said to Garth, beforehand; "and ours will be noexception to the general rule. But we can close our eyes, and standtogether in Sightless Land; and Deryck will take care it is valid."
"Not in Sightless Land, my beloved," said Garth; "but in the Land wherethey need no candle neither light of the sun. However, and wherever, Itake 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. Theservice proceeded; and the minister, who had not known how to keep themfrom clasping hands when the rubric did not require it, found nodifficulty in inducing them to do so again.
So they took each other--these two, who were so deeply each other'salready--solemnly, reverently, tenderly, in the sight of God, they tookeach 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 hecould feel she leaned, guided him to the vestry.
Afterwards, in the brougham, for those few precious minutes, whenhusband and wife find themselves alone for the first time, Garth turnedto Jane with an eager naturalness, which thrilled her heart as nostudied speech could have done. He did not say: "My wife." That uniquemoment had been theirs, three years before.
"Dearest," he said, "how soon will they all go? How soon shall we bequite alone? Oh, why couldn't they drive to the station from thechurch?"
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 marriedlife by being inhospitable. It is just one o'clock; and we orderedluncheon at half-past. Their train leaves the station at half-pastfour. 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 youunderstand that you are now--actually--my wife?"
Jane took his hand, and held it against her heart, just where she sooften 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, thankGod!--I know it to be true."
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