Taking his place opposite to her as Mr. Hargrave arranged them, he
bowed in silence to the clergyman, who, in a trembling voice, began
the rite which was to unite Amyas Belamour to Aurelia Delavie. He
intended to shorten the service, but his nervous terror and the
obscurity of the room made him stumble in finding the essential
passages, and blunder in dictating the vows, thus increasing the
confusion and bewilderment of poor little Aurelia. Somehow her
one comfort was in the touch of the hand that either clasped hers,
or held the ring on her finger--a strong, warm, tender, trustworthy
hand, neither as white nor as soft as she would have expected, but
giving her a comfortable sense both of present support and affection,
and of identity with that eager one which had sought to fondle and
caress her. There was a certain tremor about both, but hers was
from bashful fright, his, from scarcely suppressed eagerness.
The steward had a form of certificate ready for signature. When it
was presented to the bridegroom he put up his hand for a moment as
if to push back the shade, but, in dread of admitting even a feeble
ray of light, gave up the attempt, took the pen and wrote Amyas
Belamour where the clergyman pointed. Aurelia could hardly see what
she was doing, and knew she had written very badly.
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