小说园

第25部分（第2页）

〃Wheres　your　hat；　father；　and　your　gloves？〃　cries　the　bride；

stamping　her　white　slipper；　her　eyes　flashing　through　her　veil。

He　hunts　round……his　hair　is　ruffled。　Everybody　has　gone　but

the　bride　and　her　father。　He　is　ready……his　face　very　red

and　daunted。　Tilly　dithers　in　the　little　porch；　waiting　to　open

the　door。　A　waiting　woman　walks　round　Anna；　who　asks：

〃Am　I　all　right？〃

She　is　ready。　She　bridles　herself　and　looks　queenly。　She

waves　her　hand　sharply　to　her　father：

〃e　here！〃

He　goes。　She　puts　her　hand　very　lightly　on　his　arm；　and

holding　her　bouquet　like　a　shower；　stepping；　oh；　very

graciously；　just　a　little　impatient　with　her　father　for　being　so

red　in　the　face；　she　sweeps　slowly　past　the　fluttering　Tilly；

and　down　the　path。　There　are　hoarse　shouts　at　the　gate；　and　all

her　floating　foamy　whiteness　passes　slowly　into　the　cab。

Her　father　notices　her　slim　ankle　and　foot　as　she　steps　up：　a

childs　foot。　His　heart　is　hard　with　tenderness。　But　she　is　in

ecstasies　with　herself　for　making　such　a　lovely　spectacle。　All

the　way　she　sat　flamboyant　with　bliss　because　it　was　all　so

lovely。　She　looked　down　solicitously　at　her　bouquet：　white　roses

and　lilies…of…the…valley　and　tube…roses　and　maidenhair

fern……very　rich　and　cascade…like。

Her　father　sat　bewildered　with　all　this　strangeness；　his

heart　was　so　full　it　felt　hard；　and　he　couldnt　think　of

anything。

The　church　was　decorated　for　Christmas；　dark　with　evergreens；

cold　and　snowy　with　white　flowers。　He　went　vaguely　down　to　the

altar。　How　long　was　it　since　he　had　gone　to　be　married　himself？

He　was　not　sure　whether　he　was　going　to　be　married　now；　or　what

he　had　e　for。　He　had　a　troubled　notion　that　he　had　to　do

something　or　other。　He　saw　his　wifes　bonnet；　and　wondered　why

she　wasnt　there　with　him。

They　stood　before　the　altar。　He　was　staring　up　at　the　east

window；　that　glowed　intensely；　a　sort　of　blue　purple：　it　was

deep　blue　glowing；　and　some　crimson；　and　little　yellow　flowers

held　fast　in　veins　of　shadow；　in　a　heavy　web　of　darkness。　How　it