But the Reverend Mr. Barstow was not aware that he was being shooed into danger by the bustling, energetic woman behind him. He was young and callow and innocent and, although the haste with which he had been dragged from his study in the parsonage seemed peculiar, the thought of the fee he was to receive was very pleasing. It was his first wedding in Harniss. There had been two funerals, but funerals were not remunerative. Miss Clark ushered him into the little sitting-room. Bob and Esther were there. Both were rather pale and nervous, Esther especially so. Neither had before met the new minister and Reliance performed the introductions. Then she turned to Griffin. “Did you get it?” she asked, breathlessly. “Would he give it to you?” Bob produced from his pocket a folded document. “I got it, finally,” he said, with a smile. “It took considerable persuasion and an extra five dollar bill, but here it is.” Reliance glanced it over. “Seems to be all right,” she observed. “I’ve never had any experience with such things, but I guess it is.” “Oh, it is. When I gave him Esther’s name you should have seen his eyes open. He all but refused then. To hear him talk you would have thought Captain Townsend was--” “Sshh!” hastily and with a glance at the minister. “Well then, I guess we are all ready to go ahead. Where do you want them to stand, Mr. Barstow? Or had you rather be married in the parlor, Esther?” Esther shook her head. “No, Auntie,” she said. “I like this room better. It is more like home than the parlor to me. If Bob--or you--don’t mind I had rather it were here.” Bob, of course, did not mind and said so. Reliance glanced about the apartment. “Oh, dear!” she sighed. “I wish I had had time to pick up a little and to get a few flowers--or somethin’. But there! I haven’t had time to get my breath scarcely, have I? Is everything ready? Then I guess you can go right ahead, Mr. Barstow.” The reverend gentleman--he had already examined the marriage certificate which Griffin handed him--stepped forward. Bob and Esther stood facing him. Reliance stood further back, in the shadow. It was, of course, the simplest of ceremonies. And soon over. The minister’s prayer was longer than all the rest. As he prayed Reliance stepped back farther and farther from the lamplight. The tears were streaming down her face, but she wiped them hastily away and at the “Amen” ran forward, beaming, her hands outstretched. She threw her arms about the bride’s neck and kissed her. “The Lord bless you, dear,” she cried. “I hope he’ll bless both of you always. And I know he will. Young man,” turning to Bob, “I’m goin’ to kiss you, too. I’m an old maid and, if I can’t go to my own weddin’, I expect to be kissed at other folks’s.... There!” Mr. Barstow lingered but a few minutes. To tell the entire truth he received no pressing invitation to remain. After he had gone Reliance turned to the wedded pair.