Then the ushers came in.
The bridegroom was, it seemed, delayed. They waited.
“Shall we telephone, Mr. Towne?” someone asked at last.
Frederick nodded. He and his niece stood apart from the rest. Edith was smiling but had little to say. She seemed separated from the others by the fact of the approaching mystery.
The laughter had ceased; above the whispers came the tremulous echo of the organ.
The usher who had gone to the telephone returned and drew Towne aside.
“There’s something queer about it. I can’t get Del or Bob. They may be on the way. But the clerk seemed reticent.”
“I’ll go to the ’phone myself,” said Frederick. “Where is it?”
But he was saved the effort, for someone, watching at the door, said, “Here they come,” and the room seemed to sigh with relief as Bob Sterling entered.