He
turned from his position at the altar (where he was fulfilling his duties
as best man to Sir Nigel Merriton) and glanced back over the curve of
his shoulder to where a girl sat, bending forward in the empty pew, her
face alight, her eyes, beneath the curving hat-brim, swimming with
tears.... She nodded as he saw her, and smiled, the promise of their
future together curving the sweet lips into gracious, womanly lines.
Behind her, on guard as usual, and gay in a gorgeous garment of
black-and-white checks, white waistcoat and flaming scarlet buttonhole,
sat Dollops, faithfully watching while Cleek assisted at the ceremony
that was uniting two souls in one, and casting aside forever the smirch
of a name that must rankle in the heart of her who had owned it in common
with the man who had so nearly wrought her soul's desolation.
... Then it was all over. The organ swelled once more with its tidings of
joy; upon her husband's arm 'Toinette passed down the tiny aisle, tears
running down her cheeks unchecked, and mingling with the smiles that
chased each other like sunbeams across her happy face.
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