By sheer weight he beat down her resistance. Against her will, in spite of her utmost effort, she gave way before him. A moment she stood in silence. Then, "So be it!" she said, and, turning, left him. When she joined him again she was so thickly veiled that he could not see her face. She preceded him without a word into the lift, and they went down in utter silence to the waiting taxi. Then side by side through the gloom as though they travelled through space, a myriad lights twinkling all about them, the rush and roar of a universe in their ears, but they two alone in an atmosphere that none other breathed. It was a journey that neither ever afterwards calculated by time. It was incalculable as the flight of a meteor. And when at last it came to an end, for an instant neither moved. Then, as though emerging from a dream, Hone rose and alighted, and turned to give his hand to his companion. A little group of ragged urchins stood to view upon the muddy pavement. There was no other pomp to attend the coming of a bride. Silently they entered a church that was lighted from end to end for evening service. They passed up the aisle through a haze of fog. They halted at the chancel steps.... The knot of urchins had grown to a considerable crowd when they emerged. Women and half-grown girls jostled each other for a glimpse of the bride. But the utmost that any saw was a slender figure wearing a thick veil that walked a little apart from the bridegroom, and entered the waiting motor unassisted. XIV Back once more in the room where the fire crackled, newly replenished, and electric light revealed a shining tea-table, Hone turned to the silent woman beside him. "Can I write a message? I promised to send one to Teddy as soon as we were married." She pointed to the writing-table; and moved herself to the fire. There she stood for a few seconds quite motionless, seeming to listen to the scratching of his pen. He ceased to write, and turned in his chair. For a moment his eyes rested upon her. "Take off your hat!" he said. She obeyed him in utter silence. Her hands were stiff and numb with cold. She stooped, the firelight shining on her hair, and held them to the blaze. Hone rose quietly, and came to her side. He held his message for her to read, and she did so silently. "Just married. All well. Love.--PAT." "Will it do?" he said. She glanced up at him and shivered. "Is all well?" she asked, in a tone that demanded no answer. He made none, merely rang the bell and gave orders for the despatch of the message. Then he came quietly back to her. They stood face to face. She was quite erect, but pale to the lips. She stood before him as a prisoner awaiting sentence, too proud to ask for mercy.