“We are very happy to obey you, sir,” John replied.
“Is this indeed so, Miss Stornaway?” the Vicar asked.
“Oh, yes!” she sighed. “If you don’t think it wrong of me!”
“Wrong? Why should he?” said the Squire snappishly. “Let’s have no more time wasted! I’m tired!”
So Miss Helen Stornaway and Captain John Staple were made man and wife in that candle-lit bedroom, watched by a dying man, and attended by a nurse and a valet. The Vicar had to look up to their faces, and thought he had never married a more splendid couple, though the lady’s dress was shabby, and the gentleman’s leathers were stained. They made their responses firmly; and they looked so happy that Rose (as she afterwards explained) could not help crying a little, and even Winkfield admitted that it was a very touching ceremony.
When it was over, they kissed, and John led Nell back to the bed. Everyone could see that already the Squire’s face had altered subtly. The sharpened look had been smoothed, and the eyes had lost some of their unnatural glitter; he looked more peaceful, but when he lifted his right hand, it was with an effort, and it shook perceptibly. Nell hung over him for a minute; he smiled at her; and said indistinctly: “You’ll do now!”
Then he ordered Winkfield to bring wine and glasses, so that the bride’s and groom’s healths could be duly pledged. “I feel as though I shall sleep sound tonight,” he remarked. His gaze fell upon the Vicar, and a gleam of amusement shone in it. “Much obliged to you, old friend! Thought you was here on a different errand, didn’t you? You should have guessed I’d surprise you yet! Don’t look so glum: I know what I’ve done, and, damme, it’s the best deed of my life, and atones for a deal of past folly! Whatever happens now, my girl’s safe. I’ll bid you good-night now. I want a word or two with this new grandson of mine before I go to sleep, and I’m tired, very tired.”
The Captain drew his wife a little to one side, and said in her ear: “Take him away, Nell, and leave me alone with your grandfather! He is very much exhausted, and the sooner he has said what he desires to say to me the better it will be.”
She nodded, and moved away from his side, glancing significantly at Winkfield. In a very few moments, only John was left with the Squire. He returned to the big four-poster, drawing the curtains along the foot of it, to shut off the glare of the candles.
“It wasn’t you I forced into it,” Sir Peter said. “It was Nell. I don’t know what it is Henry has done, but it’s something damnable. The dog threatened me—threatened me!—Said if I would not give orders Coate must be treated with extraordinary civility he and I and Nell would be ruined! By God, I—”