going to hear for once in his life those most improbable words, 'I forbid the banns.' Then they all turned round again, and nothing happening, he hurried on, and before I had quite recovered my breath, they had all passed into the vestry. I found myself sitting in an empty church, with only the verger still hovering about and regarding me suspiciously. But I sat on. I didn't feel quite collected enough to get up and out of sight before the wedding party came out. Besides, I thought it would be rather sport to see the doddery old General and his bride coming out arm in arm. I hadn't had time to analyse my feelings yet. Of course, I was wildly glad for Boy's sake, and yet in an awful state of mind as to how he would take it. But I hadn't long to think. The vestry door opened, and the clergyman came out, closing it behind him. It was evident that the bridal party had left by another door. The clergyman, who was quite young and curate-like, came down the aisle, and I suddenly got up to meet him.
'Can you tell me the time?' I asked him breathlessly.
He looked at me rather doubtfully before pulling out his watch. Doubtless I did seem rather a strange young woman, rushing into his church in the middle of a private sort of wedding and flopping down in surprise on one of his pews like that.
'It's just twenty minutes past ten,' he said coldly.
'Then,' I said slowly, wondering if Boy already
