“Then take notice, people all, that this woman is of age, and gives herself to be married to this man, don’t you, my dear?”
“Yes,” answered Marie.
“All right, now for it,” and, opening the book, he held it up to the light, and began to read, or, rather, to stumble, through the marriage service.
Presently he stuck fast, being, like most Boers of his time, no great scholar, and exclaimed:
“Here, one of you help me with these hard words.”
As nobody volunteered, Retief handed the book to me, for he knew that Marais would not assist him, saying:
“You are a scholar, Allan, being a clergyman’s son. Read on till we come to the important bits, and I will say the words after you, which will do just as well and be quite according to law.”
So I read, Heaven knows how, for the situation was trying enough, until I came to the crucial questions, when I gave the book back.
“Ah!” said Retief; “this is quite easy. Now then, Allan, do you take this woman to be your wife? Answer, putting in your name, which is left blank in the book.”
I replied that I did, and the question was repeated to Marie, who did likewise.