There was no blur in Nathan’s mind now, no wonder what another girl was doing, no wandering memories. He was paying attention. Oh, very much he was paying attention.
Old Amos waited beside Madelaine during the preliminary exhortation. Then Madelaine gave her maid of honor her bouquet and when the rector demanded, “Who giveth this woman away?” old Amos allowed he gaveth this woman away with an “I do!” which suggested he had kept the words locked in his system for weeks, for months, and the relief of letting them explode at last was almost sleep-producing. Then he turned, and his saucer eyes demanded, “Now, bless my soul! Whereabouts do I find myself, anyhow?” And finding himself at a wedding and the observed of all observers, he spatted his way to a pew seat and sat down and twirled his thumbs and looked wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. And the wedding went on.
Nathan was married again. The ceremony was finished. The blessing was spoken. And the man was glad, glad.
With her left hand on the arm of her new husband, Madelaine turned with him to leave the altar. At that instant the great organ was given its leash. Thunderously above us all, it pealed into a ringing march of triumph. The very church arches shook with the delirium of it. The little flower girls who had brought up the rear of the procession now turned and were prompted forward. And down the aisle my friend and the woman who loved him moved forward to happiness on a carpet of flowers.
Millions of unborn men and women are yet to be married and given in marriage. But no wedding ceremony will ever pass off with such velvet perfection and infinite smoothness.
In the vestibule Nathan received hat, gloves and stick. The Theddon motor was waiting. In a moment the pair were seated therein and it had eased away from the Chestnut Street curbing.
Alone in the limousine, as it purred down South Main Street toward Long Hill and the wedding reception, Madelaine was the first to speak.
“Well, laddie, I’m yours,” she said simply. “And I’m so happy that it’s my turn to dream now. And I pray the dear Lord I never awake.”
Nathan’s great talon claw stole out and completely obliterated her right hand.
“You’ll never awaken if I can help it, dear,” he said huskily. “And I have a quaint idea that I can.”