the pit-第30部分

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They　were　married　on　the　last　day　of　June　of　that　summer　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning　in　the　church　opposite　Laura's　housethe　Episcopalian　church　of　which　she　was　a　member。　　The　wedding　was　very　quiet。　Only　the　Cresslers；　Miss　Gretry；　Page；　and　Aunt　Wess'　were　present。　　Immediately　afterward　the　couple　were　to　take　the　train　for　Geneva　LakeJadwin　having　chartered　a　car　for　the　occasion。

But　the　weather　on　the　wedding　day　was　abominable。　　A　warm　drizzle；　which　had　set　in　early　in　the　morning；　developed　by　eleven　o'clock　into　a　steady　downpour；　accompanied　by　sullen　grumblings　of　very　distant　thunder。

About　an　hour　before　the　appointed　time　Laura　insisted　that　her　aunt　and　sister　should　leave　her。　　She　would　allow　only　Mrs。　Cressler　to　help　her。　　The　time　passed。　The　rain　continued　to　fall。　　At　last　it　wanted　but　fifteen　minutes　to　eleven。

Page　and　Aunt　Wess'；　who　presented　themselves　at　the　church　in　advance　of　the　others；　found　the　interior　cool；　dark；　and　damp。　　They　sat　down　in　a　front　pew；　talking　in　whispers；　looking　about　them。　　Druggeting　shrouded　the　reader's　stand；　the　baptismal　font；　and　bishop's　chair。　　Every　footfall　and　every　minute　sound　echoed　noisily　from　the　dark　vaulting　of　the　nave　and　chancel。　　The　janitor　or　sexton；　a　severe　old　fellow；　who　wore　a　skull　cap　and　loose　slippers；　was　making　a　great　to…do　with　a　pile　of　pew　cushions　in　a　remote　corner。　　The　rain　drummed　with　incessant　monotony　upon　the　slates　overhead；　and　upon　the　stained　windows　on　either　hand。　　Page；　who　attended　the　church　regularly　every　Sunday　morning；　now　found　it　all　strangely　unfamiliar。　　The　saints　in　the　windows　looked　odd　and　unecclesiastical；　the　whole　suggestion　of　the　place　was　uncanonical。　　In　the　organ　loft　a　tuner　was　at　work　upon　the　organ；　and　from　time　to　time　the　distant　mumbling　of　the　thunder　was　mingled　with　a　sonorous；　prolonged　note　from　the　pipes。

〃My　word；　how　it　is　raining；〃　whispered　Aunt　Wess'；　as　the　pour　upon　the　roof　suddenly　swelled　in　volume。

But　Page　had　taken　a　prayer　book　from　the　rack；　and　kneeling　upon　a　hassock　was　repeating　the　Litany　to　herself。

It　annoyed　Aunt　Wess'。　　Excited；　aroused；　the　little　old　lady　was　never　more　in　need　of　a　listener。　　Would　Page　never　be　through？

〃And　Laura's　new　frock；〃　she　whispered；　vaguely。　　〃It's　going　to　be　ruined。〃

Page；　her　lips　forming　the　words；　〃Good　Lord　deliver　us；〃　fixed　her　aunt　with　a　reproving　glance。　　To　pass　the　time　Aunt　Wess'　began　counting　the　pews；　missing　a　number　here　and　there；　confusing　herself；　always　obliged　to　begin　over　again。　　From　the　direction　of　the　vestry　room　came　the　sound　of　a　closing　door。　　Then　all　fell　silent　again。　　Even　the　shuffling　of　the　janitor　ceased　for　an　instant。

〃Isn't　it　still？〃　murmured　Aunt　Wess'；　her　head　in　the　air。　　〃I　wonder　if　that　was　them。　　I　heard　a　door　slam。　They　tell　me　that　the　rector　has　been　married　three　times。〃　　Page；　unheeding　and　demure；　turned　a　leaf；　and　began　with　〃All　those　who　travel　by　land　or　water。〃　　Mr。　Cressler　and　young　Miss　Gretry　appeared。　　They　took　their　seats　behind　Page　and　Aunt　Wess'；　and　the　party　exchanged　greetings　in　low　voices。　　Page　reluctantly　laid　down　her　prayer　book。

〃Laura　will　be　over　soon；〃　whispered　Mr。　Cressler。　〃Carrie　is　with　her。　　I'm　going　into　the　vestry　room。　J。　has　just　come。〃　　He　took　himself　off；　walking　upon　his　tiptoes。

Aunt　Wess'　turned　to　Page；　repeating：

〃Do　you　know　they　say　this　rector　has　been　married　three　times？〃

But　Page　was　once　more　deep　in　her　prayer　book；　so　the　little　old　lady　addressed　her　remark　to　the　Gretry　girl。

This　other；　however；　her　lips　tightly　compressed；　made　a　despairing　gesture　with　her　hand；　and　at　length　managed　to　say：

〃Can't　talk。〃

〃Why；　heavens；　child；　whatever　is　the　matter？〃

〃Makes　them　worsewhen　I　open　my　mouthI've　got　the　hiccoughs。〃

Aunt　Wess'　flounced　back　in　her　seat；　exasperated；　out　of　sorts。

〃Well；　my　word；〃　she　murmured　to　herself；　〃I　never　saw　such　girls。〃

〃Preserve　to　our　use　the　kindly　fruits　of　the　earth；〃　continued　Page。

Isabel　Gretry's　hiccoughs　drove　Aunt　Wess'　into　〃the　fidgets。〃　　They　〃got　on　her　nerves。〃　　What　with　them　and　Page's　uninterrupted　murmur；　she　was　at　length　obliged　to　sit　in　the　far　end　of　the　pew；　and　just　as　she　had　settled　herself　a　second　time　the　door　of　the　vestry　room　opened　and　the　wedding　party　came　out；　first　Mrs。　Cressler；　then　Laura；　then　Jadwin　and　Cressler；　and　then；　robed　in　billowing　white；　venerable；　his　prayer　book　in　his　hand；　the　bishop　of　the　diocese　himself。　Last　of　all　came　the　clerk；　osseous；　perfumed；　a　gardenia　in　the　lapel　of　his　frock　coat；　terribly　excited；　and　hurrying　about　on　tiptoe；　saying　〃Sh！　Sh！〃　as　a　matter　of　principle。

Jadwin　wore　a　new　frock　coat　and　a　resplendent　Ascot　scarf；　which　Mr。　Cressler　had　bought　for　him　and　Page　knew　at　a　glance　that　he　was　agitated　beyond　all　measure；　and　was　keeping　himself　in　hand　only　by　a　tremendous　effort。　　She　could　guess　that　his　teeth　were　clenched。　　He　stood　by　Cressler's　side；　his　head　bent　forward；　his　handsthe　fingers　incessantly　twisting　and　untwistingclasped　behind　his　back。　　Never　for　once　did　his　eyes　leave　Laura's　face。

She　herself　was　absolutely　calm；　only　a　little　paler　perhaps　than　usual；　but　never　more　beautiful；　never　more　charming。　　Abandoning　for　this　once　her　accustomed　black；　she　wore　a　tan　travelling　dress；　tailor　made；　very　smart；　a　picture　hat　with　heavy　plumes　set　off　with　a　clasp　of　rhinestones；　while　into　her　belt　was　thrust　a　great　bunch　of　violets。　　She　drew　off　her　gloves　and　handed　them　to　Mrs。　Cressler。　　At　the　same　moment　Page　began　to　cry　softly　to　herself。

〃There's　the　last　of　Laura；〃　she　whimpered。　　〃There's　the　last　of　my　dear　sister　for　me。〃

Aunt　Wess'　fixed　her　with　a　distressful　gaze。　　She　sniffed　once　or　twice；　and　then　began　fumbling　in　her　reticule　for　her　handkerchief。

〃If　only　her　dear　father　were　here；〃　she　whispered　huskily。　　〃And　to　think　that's　the　same　little　girl　I　used　to　rap　on　the　head　with　my　thimble　for　annoying　the　cat！　Oh；　if　Jonas　could　be　here　this　day。〃

〃She'll　never　be　the　same　to　me　after　now；〃　sobbed　Page；　and　as　she　spoke　the　Gretry　girl；　hypnotised　with　emotion　and　taken　all　unawares；　gave　vent　to　a　shrill　hiccough；　a　veritable　yelp；　that　woke　an　explosive　echo　in　every　corner　of　the　building。

Page　could　not　restrain　a　giggle；　and　the　giggle　strangled　with　the　sobs　in　her　throat；　so　that　the　little　girl　was　not　far　from　hysterics。

And　just　then　a　sonorous　voice；　magnificent；　orotund；　began　suddenly　from　the　chancel　with　the　words：

〃Dearly　beloved；　we　are　gathered　together　here　in　the　sight　of　God；　and　in　the　face　of　this　company　to　join　together　this　Man　and　this　Woman　in　holy　matrimony。〃

Promptly　a　spirit　of　reverence；　not　to　say　solemnity；　pervaded　the　entire　surroundings。　　The　building　no　longer　appeared　secular；　unecclesiastical。　　Not　in　the　midst　of　all　the　pomp　and　ceremonial　of　the　Easter　service　had　the　chancel　and　high　altar　disengaged　a　more　compelling　influence。　　All　other　intrusive　noises　died　away；　the　organ　was　hushed；　the　fussy　janitor　was　nowhere　in　sight；　the　outside　clamour　of　the　city　seemed　dwindling　to　the　faintest；　most　distant　vibration；　the　whole　world　was　suddenly　removed；　while　the　great　moment　in　the　lives　of　the　Man　and　the　Woman　began。

Page　held　her　breath；　the　intensity　of　the　situation　seemed　to　her；　almost　physically；　straining　tighter　and　tighter　with　every　passing　instant。　　She　was　awed；　stricken；　and　Laura　appeared　to　her　to　be　all　at　once　a　woman　transfigured；　semi…angelic；　unknowable；　exalted。　The　solemnity　of　those　prolonged；　canorous　syllables：　〃I　require　and　charge　you　both；　as　ye　shall　answer　at　the　dreadful　day　of　judgment；　when　the　secrets　of　all　hearts　shall　be　disclosed；〃　weighed　down　upon　her　spirits　with　an　almost　intolerable　majesty。　　Oh；　it　was　all　very　well　to　speak　lightly　of　marriage；　to　consider　it　in　a　vein　of　mirth。　　It　was　a　pretty　solemn　affair；　after　all；　and　she　herself；　Page　Dearborn；　was　a　wicked；　wicked　girl；　full　of　sins；　full　of　deceits　and　frivolities；　meriting　of　punishmenton　〃that　dreadful　day　of　judgment。〃　　Only　last　week　she　had　deceived　Aunt　Wess'　in　the　matter　of　one　of　her　〃young　men。〃　　It　was　time　she　stopped。　　To…day　would　mark　a　change。　Henceforward；　she　resolved；　she　would　lead　a　new　life。

〃God　the　Father；　God　the　Son；　and　God　the　Holy　Ghost　。。。〃

To　Page's　mind　the　venerable　bishop's　voice　was　filling　all　the　church；　as　on　the　day　of　Pentecost；　when　the　apostles　received　the　Holy　Ghost；　the　building　was　filled　with　a　〃mighty　rushing　wind。〃

She　knelt　down　again；　but　could　not　bring　herself　to　close　her　eyes　completely。　　From　under　her　lids　she　still　watched　her　sister　and　Jadwin。　　How　Laura　must　be　feeling　now！　She　was；　in　fact；　very　pale。　　There　was　emotion　in　Jadwin's　eyes。　　Page　could　see　them　plainly。　It　seemed　beautiful　that　even　he；　the　strong；　modern　man…of…affairs；　should　be　so　moved。　　How　he　must　love　Laura。　　He　was　fine；　he　was　noble；　and　all　at　once　this　fineness　and　nobility　of　his　so　affected　her　that　she　began　to　cry　again。　　Then　suddenly　came　the　words：

〃。。。　That　in　the　world　to　come　ye　may　have　life　everlasting。　　Amen。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　then　the　group　about　the　altar　rail　broke　up。

〃Come；〃　said　Aunt　Wess'；　getting　to　her　feet；　〃it's　all　over；　Page。　　Come；　and　kiss　your　sisterMrs。　Jadwin。〃

In　the　vestry　room　Laura　stood　for　a　moment；　while　one　after　another　of　the　wedding　partyeven　Mr。　Cressler　kissed　her。　　When　Page's　turn　came；　the　two　sisters　held　each　other　in　a　close　embrace　a　long　moment；　but　Laura's　eyes　were　always　dry。　　Of　all　present　she　was　the　least　excited。

〃Here's　something；〃　vociferated　the　ubiquitous　clerk；　pushing　his　way　forward。　　〃It　was　on　the　table　when　we　came　out　just　now。　　The　sexton　says　a　messenger　boy　brought　it。　　It's　for　Mrs。　Jadwin。〃

He　handed　her　a　large　box。　　Laura　opened　it。　　Inside　was　a　great　sheaf　of　Jacqueminot　roses　and　a　card；　on　which　was　written：


〃May　that　same　happiness　which　you　have　always　inspired　in　the　lives　and　memories　of　all　who　know　you　be　with　you　always。

〃Yrs。　　　　　　S。　C。〃


The　party；　emerging　from　the　church；　hurried　across　the　street　to　the　Dearborns'　home；　where　Laura　and　Jadwi