“I will.”
Then followed the beautiful form of the Anglican marriage service. The Dean looked around, and in the twilight of the church uttered the solemn words:
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”
Gilliatt answered, “I do!”
There was an interval of silence. Caudray and Déruchette felt a vague sense of oppression in spite of their joy.
The Dean placed Déruchette’s right hand in Caudray’s; and Caudray repeated after him:
“I take thee, Durande Déruchette to be my wedded wife, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
The Dean then placed Caudray’s right hand in that of Déruchette, and Déruchette said after him:
“I take thee to be my wedded husband for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
The Dean asked, “Where is the ring?” The question took them by surprise. Caudray had no ring; but Gilliatt took off the gold ring which he wore upon his little finger. It was probably the wedding-ring which had been sold that morning by the jeweller in the Commercial Arcade.