"La, my Lady—now I should have thought it quite interesting, if I had been in your La'ship's situation!"
"Well, what is it that they expect me to repeat?"
"Oh! I'll read it, my Lady—here it is," replied Annette, and read as follows:—
"Then shall the priest say unto the woman, 'N, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together, after God's ordinance, in the holy state of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?'
"The woman shall answer, 'I will.'"
"Well—it's only a form, you know, Annette—and I dare say no one ever gives it a thought," said Lady Cecilia, struggling to suppress a sigh.
"Then," continued Annette, "your La'ship will have to say a good deal after the parson—but I beg your La'ship's pardon—it's (in your case) the bishop. Here it is:
"'I, N, take thee, M, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish'"——
"Yes, yes—I hear," interrupted Lady Cecilia, faintly, turning pale; "I know it all; that will do, Annette" —
"There's only a word more, my Lady:—
"'And obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.'