"Miles—dearest," she whispered, laying a hand on his arm, "shall we not be married again? This place carries no hallowing thoughts to the heart."
"My Minnie, you have echoed my intention—the moment we arrive in town, we will doubly cement the sweet bonds of this day's forging!"
Here the officiator entered. He was a serious, matter-of-fact-looking man; he put on his spectacles, and scanned them closely; then, giving a sort of grunt, intimating some sort of feeling best understood by himself, he commenced—
"Stop!" cried Tremenhere; "I have forgotten a ring!"
Minnie was trembling violently—every thing startled her. He saw this, and, hastily glancing at his finger, said, "In such a cause, this will but sanctify it!" and he drew off the circle of gold. "Minnie," he whispered, "this was my mother's."
"Oh, not that!" she cried, shrinking back. "It has been so ill-fated!"
"You'd better not delay," suggested the man; "folks travel quickly now-a-days, and I have buzness, too."
"It will unite us the closer in our triumph over her enemies and ours, my Minnie."
She said no more, but a cold thrill passed over her as the ring made her Tremenhere's wife.
"Now ye're right," said the man, with a grim smile, which he intended to be jocular; "an' tak' care on her, for she's a sonsy leddy—puir young thing!"