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nominally engaged for Natalie； in the assumed character of the
stewardess's niecethe stewardess undertaking to answer any purely
formal questions which might be put by the church authorities； and to be
present at the marriage ceremony。 As for Launce； he would actually； as
well as nominally； live in the district close by； and the steward； if needful；
would answer for _him_。 Natalie might call at her parochial residence
occasionally； under the wing of Lady Winwood； gaining leave of absence
from Muswell Hill； on the plea of paying one of her customary visits at
her aunt's house。 The conspiracy； in brief； was arranged in all its details。
Nothing was now wanting but the consent of the young lady； obtaining
which； Launce would go to the parish church and give the necessary
notice of a marriage by banns on the next day。 There was the plot。 What
did the ladies think of it？
Lady Winwood thought it perfect。
Natalie was not so easily satisfied。
〃My father has always been so kind to me！〃 she said。 〃The one thing I
can't get over； Launce； is distressing papa。 If he had been hard on meas
some fathers areI shouldn't mind。〃 She suddenly brightened； as if she
saw her position in a new light。 〃Why should you hurry me？〃 she asked。 〃I
am going to dine at my aunt's to…day； and you are coming in the evening。
Give me time！ Wait till to…night。〃
Launce instantly entered his protest against wasting a moment longer。
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Lady Winwood opened her lips to support him。 They were both silenced at
the same moment by the appearance of one of Mrs。 Sancroft's servants；
opening the gate of the square。
Lady Winwood went forward to meet the man。 A suspicion crossed her
mind that he might be bringing bad news。
〃What do you want？〃 she asked。
〃I beg your pardon； my ladythe housekeeper said you were walking
here with Miss Graybrooke。 A telegram for Miss Graybrooke。〃
Lady Winwood took the telegram from the man's hand； dismissed him；
and went back with it to Natalie。 Natalie opened it nervously。 She read the
messageand instantly changed。 Her cheeks flushed deep； her eyes
flashed with indignation。 〃Even papa can be hard on me； it seems； when
Richard asks him！〃 she exclaimed。 She handed the telegram to Launce。
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears。 〃_You_ love me；〃 she said； gently
and stopped。 〃Marry me！〃 she added； with a sudden burst of resolution。
〃I'll risk it！〃
As she spoke those words； Lady Winwood read the telegram。 It ran
thus：
〃Sir Joseph Graybrooke； Muswell Hill。 To Miss Natalie Graybrooke；
Berkeley Square。 Come back immediately。 You are engaged to dine here
with Richard Turlington。〃
Lady Winwood folded up the telegram with a malicious smile。 〃Well
done； Sir Joseph！〃 thought her ladyship。 〃We might never have persuaded
Nataliebut for You！〃
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SIXTH SCENE。
The Church。
The time is morning； the date is early in the month of November。 The
place is a church； in a poor and populous parish in the undiscovered
regions of London； eastward of the Tower； and hard by the river…side。
A marriage procession of five approaches the altar The bridegroom is
pale； and the bride is frightened。 The bride's friend （a resolute…looking
little lady） encourages her in whispers。 The two respectable persons；
apparently man and wife； who complete the procession； seem to be not
quite clear as to the position which they occupy at the ceremony。 The
beadle； as he marshals them before the altar； sees something under the
surface in this wedding…party。 Marriages in the lower ranks of life are the
only marriages celebrated here。 Is this a runaway match？ The beadle
anticipates something out of the common in the shape of a fee。
The clergyman （the junior curate） appears from the vestry in his robes。
The clerk takes his place。 The clergyman's eye rests with a sudden interest
and curiosity on the bride and bridegroom； and on the bride's friend；
notices the absence of elderly relatives； remarks； in the two ladies
especially； evidences of refinement and breeding entirely unparalleled in
his professional experience of brides and brides' friends standing before
the altar of that church； questions； silently and quickly； the eye of the clerk；
occupied also in observing the strangers with interest 〃Jenkinson〃 （the
clergyman's look asks）； 〃is this all right？〃 〃Sir〃 （the clerk's look answers）；
〃a marriage by banns； all the formalities have been observed。〃 The
clergyman opens his book。 The formalities have been observed； his duty
lies plainly before him。 Attention； Launcelot！ Courage； Natalie！ The
service begins。
Launce casts a last furtive look round the church。 Will Sir Joseph
Graybrooke start up and stop it from one of the empty pews？ Is Richard
Turlington lurking in the organ…loft； and only waiting till the words of the
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service appeal to him to prohibit the marriage； or 〃else hereafter forever to
hold his peace？〃 No。 The clergyman proceeds steadily； and nothing
happens。 Natalie's charming face grows paler and paler； Natalie's heart
throbs faster and faster； as the time comes nearer for reading the words
which unite them for life。 Lady Winwood herself feels an unaccustomed
fluttering in the region of the bosom。 Her ladyship's thoughts revert； not
altogether pleasantly； to her own marriage： 〃Ah me！ what was I thinking
of when I was in this position？ Of the bride's beautiful dress； and of Lady
Winwood's coming presentation at court！〃
The service advances to the words in which they plight their troth。
Launce has put the ring on her finger。 Launce has repeated the words after
the clergyman。 Launce has married her！ Done！ Come what may of it；
done！
The service ends。 Bridegroom； bride； and witnesses go into the vestry
to sign the book。 The signing； like the service； is serious。 No trifling with
the truth is possible here。 When it comes to Lady Winwood's turn； Lady
Winwood must write her name。 She does it； but without her usual grace
and decision。 She drops her handkerchief。 The clerk picks it up for her；
and notices that a coronet is embroidered in one corner。
The fees are paid。 They leave the vestry。 Other couples； when it is over；
are talkative and happy。 These two are more silent and more embarrassed
than ever。 Stranger still； while other couples go off with relatives and
friends； all socially united in honor of the occasion； these two and their
friends part at the church door。 The respectable man and his wife go their
way on foot。 The little lady with the coronet on her handkerchief puts the
bride into a cab； gets in herself； and directs the driver to close the door；
while the bridegroom is standing on the church steps！ The bridegroom's
face is clouded； as well it may be。 He puts his head in at the window of the
cab； he possesses himself of the bride's hand； he speaks in a whisper； he is
apparently not to be shaken off。 The little lady exerts her authority；
separates the clasped hands； pushes the bridegroom away； and cries
peremptorily to the driver to go on。 The cab starts； the deserted husband
drifts desolately anyhow down the street。 The clerk； who has seen it all；
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goes back to the vestry and reports what has happened。
The rector （with his wife on his arm） has just dropped into the vestry
on business in passing。 He and the curate are talking about the strange
marriage。 The rector； gravely bent on ascertaining that no blame rests with
th