The young couple stood up, still holding each other by the hands. The ceremony commenced, and it was remarkable that when the clergyman came to that portion which commands any one that can make objections to render them then, or henceforth hold his peace, aunt Hannah held up her hand that he might pause, and stepping in front of Mrs. Farnham, said in a low stern voice,
"Have you any objections?"
"Me!" exclaimed the lady with a sneer. "What do I care about them!"
"Then you are willing that the ceremony goes on?" persisted the singular woman, without a change of voice or attitude.
"What earthly objection can I have? of course the ceremony may go on, what are these people to me?"
The ceremony went on, and with a deep breath of such joy as few human beings ever know, the husband and wife sat down, almost faint with excess of emotion.
Isabel Chester had been sitting apart from the group, passive and feeble, but now and then lifting her great mournful eyes with a look of unuttered misery to the face of young Farnham.
The first of these eloquent glances brought him to her side.
"Isabel, I will give up all, I came to renounce everything but you," he whispered.
She shook her head mournfully and glanced with a shudder towards Mrs.
Farnham.