Part 21 (1/2)

He was silenced by the clergyman's rapid grip directing the exchange of hands.

”Pete arf me,” said the clergyman to Mr. Polly. ”Take thee Mirum wed wife--”

”Take thee Mirum wed' wife,” said Mr. Polly.

”Have hold this day ford.”

”Have hold this day ford.”

”Betworse, richpoo'--”

”Bet worsh, richpoo'....”

Then came Miriam's turn.

”Lego hands,” said the clergyman; ”got the ring? No! On the book. So!

Here! Pete arf me, 'withis ring Ivy wed.'”

”Withis ring Ivy wed--”

So it went on, blurred and hurried, like the momentary vision of an utterly beautiful thing seen through the smoke of a pa.s.sing train....

”Now, my boy,” said Mr. Voules at last, gripping Mr. Polly's elbow tightly, ”you've got to sign the registry, and there you are! Done!”

Before him stood Miriam, a little stiffly, the hat with a slight rake across her forehead, and a kind of questioning hesitation in her face.

Mr. Voules urged him past her.

It was astounding. She was his wife!

And for some reason Miriam and Mrs. Larkins were sobbing, and Annie was looking grave. Hadn't they after all wanted him to marry her?

Because if that was the case--!

He became aware for the first time of the presence of Uncle Pentstemon in the background, but approaching, wearing a tie of a light mineral blue colour, and grinning and sucking enigmatically and judiciously round his princ.i.p.al tooth.

V

It was in the vestry that the force of Mr. Voules' personality began to show at its true value. He seemed to open out and spread over things directly the restraints of the ceremony were at an end.

”Everything,” he said to the clergyman, ”excellent.” He also shook hands with Mrs. Larkins, who clung to him for a s.p.a.ce, and kissed Miriam on the cheek. ”First kiss for me,” he said, ”anyhow.”

He led Mr. Polly to the register by the arm, and then got chairs for Mrs. Larkins and his wife. He then turned on Miriam. ”Now, young people,” he said. ”One! or _I_ shall again.”

”That's right!” said Mr. Voules. ”Same again, Miss.”

Mr. Polly was overcome with modest confusion, and turning, found a refuge from this publicity in the arms of Mrs. Larkins. Then in a state of profuse moisture he was a.s.saulted and kissed by Annie and Minnie, who were immediately kissed upon some indistinctly stated grounds by Mr. Voules, who then kissed the entirely impa.s.sive Mrs.

Voules and smacked his lips and remarked: ”Home again safe and sound!”

Then with a strange harrowing cry Mrs. Larkins seized upon and bedewed Miriam with kisses, Annie and Minnie kissed each other, and Johnson went abruptly to the door of the vestry and stared into the church--no doubt with ideas of sanctuary in his mind. ”Like a bit of a kiss round sometimes,” said Mr. Voules, and made a kind of hissing noise with his teeth, and suddenly smacked his hands together with great _eclat_ several times. Meanwhile the clergyman scratched his cheek with one hand and fiddled the pen with the other and the verger coughed protestingly.