So, very early, as soon as the church was opened, he stole in
unobserved, and took a place by himself in the farthest corner of the
gallery. A pillar concealed him from view; for further security he held
his handkerchief constantly in front of his face, or shielded himself
behind one of the big free-seat prayer-books. Cleer came in looking
beautiful in her wedding dress; Mrs. Trevennack's pathetic face glowed
radiant for once in this final realization of her dearest wishes. A
single second only, near the end of the ceremony, Tyrrel leaned forward
incautiously, anxious to see Cleer at an important point of the
proceedings. At the very same instant Trevennack raised his face. Their
eyes met in a flash. Tyrrel drew back, horrorstruck, and penitent at
his own intrusion at such a critical moment. But, strange to say,
Trevennack took no overt notice. Had his wife only known she would have
sunk in her seat in her agony of fear. But happily she didn't know.
Trevennack went through the ceremony, all outwardly calm; he gave no
sign of what he had seen, even to his wife herself. He buried it deep
in his own heart. That made it all the more dangerous.
CHAPTER XV.
ST. MICHAEL DOES BATTLE.
The wedding breakfast went off pleasantly, without a hitch of any sort.
Trevennack, always dignified and always a grand seigneur, rose to the
occasion with his happiest spirit. The silver-haired wife, gazing up at
him, felt proud of him as of old, and was for once quite at her ease.
For all was over now, thank heaven, and dear Cleer was married!
That same afternoon the bride and bridegroom started off for their
honeymoon to the Tyrol and Italy. When Mrs. Trevennack was left alone
with her husband it was with a thankful heart. She turned to him,
flowing over in soul with joy. "Oh, Michael," she cried, melting, "I'm
so happy, so happy, so happy."
Trevennack stooped down and kissed her forehead tenderly. He had always
been a good husband, and he loved her with all his heart. "That's well,
Lucy," he answered. "Thank God, it's all over. For I can't hold out
much longer. The strain's too much for me." He paused a moment, and
looked at her. "Lucy," he said, once more, clasping his forehead with
one hand, "I've fought against it hard. I'm fighting against it still.
But at times it almost gets the better of me. Do you know who I saw in
the church this morning, skulking behind a pillar?--that man Walter
Tyrrel."
Mrs. Trevennack gazed at him all aghast. This was surely a delusion, a
fixed idea, an insane hallucination. "Oh, no, dear," she cried, prying
deep into his eyes. "It couldn't be he, it couldn't. You must be
mistaken, Michael. I'm sure he's not in London."
"No more mistaken than I am this minute," Trevennack answered, rushing
over to the window, and pointing with one hand eagerly. "See, see!
there he is, Lucy--the man that killed our poor, dear Michael!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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