Both forward, bowed, and shook hands.
“Oh! for God’s sake have it over quickly, Magnus, lest my strength fail!” said Alice, trembling violently.
The minister drew the prayer-book from his pocket and opened it.
Elsie suddenly lost every vestige of color, and threw herself again into her mother’s arms. Alice pressed her passionately to her heart a moment, and then gave her up to Magnus, who took her hand, passed his arm around her waist to support her, and stood before the minister.
In ten more minutes Magnus Hardcastle had the joy of clasping his wife to his bosom.
“Thank Heaven that it is over! Oh-h-h! Ugh-gh-h! I felt my flesh creeping all the time, as if father were peeping over my shoulder,” exclaimed Elsie, shuddering, and burying her head under the arm of Magnus.
“Yes, thank Heaven, it is over! It was short. A few solemn words of exhortation, a brief prayer, a briefer benediction, and now I possess you, without a doubt, or dispute—entirely. The laws of God and man give you to me alike, and no power under heaven can tear you from me, my own Elsie! my own wife!” said Magnus fervently, and almost crushing her in his arms.
“Yes, thank Heaven it is over! The doubt, the struggle, and the fear is over. You are safe, Elsie. Your happiness, as far as human foresight can secure it, is insured,” said Alice, as she received Elsie once more from the arms of Magnus, and folded her in her own.
“But you! Oh, my dear mother! you will be left without your child!”
“Never regret me, my own darling. You go without your mother, but you go with your husband, and you are happy. Are you not, my Elsie?”