ocks　and　reading　the　mementoes　graven　on　the　few　mossy　head…stones。　I　noticed　them；　because；　as　they　saw　us；　they　passed　round　to　the　back　of　the　church；　and　I　doubted　not　they　were　going　to　enter　by　the　side…aisle　door　and　witness　the　ceremony。　By　Mr。　Rochester　they　were　not　observed；　he　was　earnestly　looking　at　my　face　from　which　the　blood　had；　I　daresay；　momentarily　fled：　for　I　felt　my　forehead　dewy；　and　my　cheeks　and　lips　cold。　When　I　rallied；　which　I　soon　did；　he　walked　gently　with　me　up　the　path　to　the　porch。

ple；　the　priest　waited　in　his　white　surplice　at　the　lowly　altar；　the　clerk　beside　him。　All　was　still：　two　shadows　only　moved　in　a　remote　corner。　My　conjecture　had　been　correct：　the　strangers　had　slipped　in　before　us；　and　they　now　stood　by　the　vault　of　the　Rochesters；　their　backs　towards　us；　viewing　through　the　rails　the　old　time…stained　marble　tomb；　where　a　kneeling　angel　guarded　the　remains　of　Damer　de　Rochester；　slain　at　Marston　Moor　in　the　time　of　the　civil　wars；　and　of　Elizabeth；　his　wife。

Our　place　was　taken　at　the　munion　rails。　Hearing　a　cautious　step　behind　me；　I　glanced　over　my　shoulder：　one　of　the　strangers—a　gentleman；　evidently—was　advancing　up　the　chancel。　The　service　began。　The　explanation　of　the　intent　of　matrimony　was　gone　through；　and　then　the　clergyman　came　a　step　further　forward；　and；　bending　slightly　towards　Mr。　Rochester；　went　on。

“I　require　and　charge　you　both　（as　ye　will　answer　at　the　dreadful　day　of　judgment；　when　the　secrets　of　all　hearts　shall　be　disclosed）；　that　if　either　of　you　know　any　impediment　why　ye　may　not　lawfully　be　joined　together　in　matrimony；　ye　do　now　confess　it；　for　be　ye　well　assured　that　so　many　as　are　coupled　together　otherwise　than　God’s　Word　doth　allow；　are　not　joined　together　by　God；　neither　i