Hargrave lead her by her finger-tips towards Mr.
Belamour's apartments. Mrs. Aylward was waiting in the lobby, with
a fixed impassive countenance, intended to imply that though obedient
to the summons to serve as a witness, it was no concern of hers. On
the stairs behind her the maids were leaning over the balusters,
stuffing their aprons into their mouths lest their tittering should
betray them.
The sitting-room was nearly, but not quite, dark, for a lamp, closely
shaded, cast a dim light on a Prayer-book, placed on a small table,
behind which stood poor Mr. Greaves--a black spectre, whose white
bands were just discernible below a face whose nervous, disturbed
expression was lost in the general gloom. He carefully avoided
looking at the bride, fearing perhaps some appeal on her part such
as would make his situation perplexing. Contempt and poverty had
brought his stamp of clergymen very low, and rendered them abject.
He had been taken by surprise, and though assured that this was
according to my Lady's will, and with the consent of the maiden's
father, he was in an agony of fright, shifting awkwardly from leg
to leg, and ruffling the leaves of the book, as a door opened and
the bridegroom appeared, followed by Jumbo.
Aurelia looked up with bashful eagerness, and saw in the imperfect
light a tall figure entirely covered by a long dark dressing-gown,
a grey, tight curled lawyer's wig on the head, and the upper part
of the face sheltered from the scanty rays of the lamp by a large
green shade.
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