f the witnesses, who supposed themselves
obliged to pay her some usual compliments. They bowed to her with
respect, and she returned the bow; but they did so in silence, looking
at her with admiration. This reserve cast a chill over the whole party.
Joy never bursts forth freely except among those who are equals. Thus
chance determined that all should be dull and grave around the bridal
pair; nothing reflected, outwardly, the happiness that reigned within
their hearts.

The church and the mayor's office being near by, Luigi and Ginevra,
followed by the four witnesses required by law, walked the distance,
with a simplicity that deprived of all pomp this greatest event in
social life. They saw a crowd of waiting carriages in the mayor's
court-yard; and when they reached the great hall where the civil
marriages take place, they found two other wedding-parties impatiently
awaiting the mayor's arrival.

Ginevra sat down beside Luigi at the end of a long bench; their
witnesses remained standing, for want of seats. Two brides, elaborately
dressed in white, with ribbons, laces, and pearls, and crowned with
orange-blossoms whose satiny petals nodded beneath their veils, were
surrounded by joyous families, and accompanied by their mothers, to
whom they looked up, now and then, with eyes that were content and timid
both; the faces of all the rest reflected happiness, and seemed to be
invoking blessings on the youthful pairs. Fathers, witnesses, brothers,
and sisters went and came, like a happy swarm of insects disporting
in the sun. Each seemed to be impressed with the value of this passing
moment of life, when the heart finds itself within two hopes,--the
wishes of the past, the promises of the future.

As she watched them, Ginevra's heart swelled within her; she pressed
Luigi's arm, and gave him a look. A tear rolled from the eyes of the
young Corsican; never did he so well understand the joys that his
Ginevra was sacrificing to him. That precious tear caused her to forget
all else but him,--even the abandonment in which she sat there. Love
poured down its treasures of light upon their hearts; they saw nought
else but themselves in the midst of the joyous tumult; they were there
alone, in that crowd, as they were destined to be, henceforth, in life.
Their witnesses, indifferent to what was happening, conversed quietly on
their own affairs.

"Oats are very dear," said the sergeant to the mason.

"But they have not gone up l