But what immediately occupied her were other words which, prompted by him, she was automatically repeating. The words are very beautiful, really exalting, they are words that spread peace as dawn spreads upon the sea. Yet, in their delivery, twice Dr. Grantly tripped and, though on each occasion he pulled himself up and went on again without embarrassment, it seemed to Cassy that he did so without dignity. The impression, which was but momentary, drifted; another distraction intervened, her finger was being ringed. I'm done for! she despairingly thought. "Amen!" "Ouf!" Cassy gasped. It was really over, over at last, and still a little bewildered, she turned. The butler and the maid were leaving the room, which they must have entered when the ceremony first over-whelmed her. From the hall a slight cackle floated back. It amused them, she generously reflected. Paliser did not notice. He was addressing the clergyman. "Thank you very much, doctor." He turned to his bride. "Cutting your head off may have been worse, don't you think?" If I can't be gay at least I should appear so, she told herself and desperately she laughed. Meanwhile the man of God, relapsing into the man of the world, or of its neighbourhood, did not seem to know what to do with himself. He dropped the book, picked it up, put it on the table. Considerately, in his Oxford voice, Paliser instructed him. "You must be going? Ah, well, I appreciate. Let me thank you again." Dr. Grantly mumbled something, smiled at the bride, smiled at the happy man or, more exactly, he smiled at an envelope which the happy man was giving him and which, Cassy divined, contained his fee. How much? she wondered. However much or little, it was excessive. The hall took him and the groom grappled with the bride, embracing her with that rudimentary paranoia which lawful passion comports. She struggled free and, a bit breathless, but with the same desperate gaiety, exclaimed: "If this is matrimony, give me war!" "Perhaps you would prefer dinner first," Paliser, with recovered calm, replied. Wouldn't she, though! Now that she was definitely dished, hunger again bit at her and she accompanied Paliser through the dim hall, through the music-room, through the long suite, into the dining-room where, as before, three men, with white sensual faces, stood waiting. Paliser motioned. "Mrs. Paliser will sit there. Move the other chair here." He drew a seat for her and gave additional instructions. "There will be people here to-morrow. If we are motoring, have them wait." "What people?" asked Cassy, before whom an uncomfortable vision of her father and Ma Tamby jumped. Paliser replied in French. "A man and a woman or two from Fifth Avenue." I wonder where that bundle is, thought Cassy who said: "A man? What man?" "Oh, just a clerk. That is almond soup. Do you care for it?" He looked down at his plate which appeared to engross him. Cassy raised her spoon. "A penny for your thoughts."