But almost at the same instant, the Selbys entered the church at the further end. Mr. Selby, with his red face and fluffy side-whiskers, had Maude upon his arm. She looked very pale and very sweet, with downcast eyes and solemn mouth, while behind her walked her younger sister Mary and her pretty friend Nelly Sheridan, both in pink dresses with broad pink hats and white curling feathers. The bride was herself in the grey travelling-dress with which Frank was already familiar by its description in her letter. Its gentle tint and her tenderly grave expression made a charming effect. Behind them was the mother, still young and elegant, with something of Maude’s grace in her figure and carriage. As the party came up the aisle, Frank was to be restrained no longer. ‘Get to his head!’ cried Jack to Hale in an excited whisper, but their man was already hurrying to shake hands with Maude. He walked up on her right, and they took their position in two little groups, the happy couple in the centre. At the same moment the clang of the church-clock sounded above them, and the vicar, shrugging his shoulders to get his white surplice into position, came bustling out of the vestry. To him it was all the most usual, commonplace, and unimportant thing in the world, and both Frank and Maude were filled with amazement at the nonchalant way in which he whipped out a prayer-book, and began to rapidly perform the ceremony. It was all so new and solemn and all-important to them, that they had expected something mystic and overpowering in the function, and yet here was this brisk little man, with an obvious cold in his head, tying them up in as business-like a fashion as a grocer uniting two parcels. After all, he had to do it a thousand times a year, and so he could not be extravagant in his emotions. The singular service was read out to them, the exhortations, and the explanations, sometimes stately, sometimes beautiful, sometimes odious. Then the little vicar turned upon Frank—‘_Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife_, _to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony_? _Wilt thou love her_, _comfort her_, _honour her_, _in sickness and in health_, _and forsaking all other_, _keep thee only unto her as long as ye both shall live_?’ ‘_I will_,’ cried Frank, with conviction. ‘_And wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband_, _to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony_? _Wilt thou obey him_, _and serve him_, _love_, _honour_, _and keep him_, _in sickness and in health_, _and forsaking all other_, _keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live_?’ ‘_I will_,’ said Maude, from her heart. ‘_Who giveth this woman to be married to this man_?’ ‘_I do_. Mr. John Selby—her father, you know.’