as if he were ashamed and sorry
about something.

"It's all right," he explained. "The man tells me we can be married
here, and it's not too late. He says a good many people come even
nowadays, simply for the romance of having their wedding at Gretna
Green." Then Basil gave his hand to me, to help me down from the car. I
felt very weak, and almost sick. How different from the day when my
knight and I had dashed up to this door in the old-fashioned chaise, and
played the game of being married at the anvil! How my heart beat as he
held me for an instant in his arms! I ought to have known then that I
was in love with him. Now, it was as if my heart were dying, for it felt
cold and heavy as lead, as I told myself that after this it would be
wrong to call Mr. Somerled "my knight," or even to think of him at all,
since to think was to love.

Mrs. West got down from the car too, and took off her veil. Basil
explained to Salomon what it would be necessary for him to do, and how
he must leave his motor for a few minutes.

My knees trembled so that I could scarcely walk. Basil noticed it, and
insisted on my taking his arm. "It's because she has been sitting still
in the car so long," Mrs. West said to him hastily. "I am often like
that after a day's motoring."

"You're awfully pale," said Basil, staring at me anxiously. "You won't
faint or anything, will you?"

"Oh, no," I said. "I am quite well." I tried to speak naturally, but my
voice sounded as if it were some one else's, miles away. And for a
minute, after entering the little room that looked so familiar, I was
afraid that I might cry or be somehow stupid.

"Now," said Basil, "all we have to do is to state before these witnesses
that we take one another in marriage. Isn't that it?" he asked, turning
to the old man, who in the costume brought by the photographers, had
performed the ceremony over me and my knight.

"Yes, sir, that is all there is to it," he replied; but as he spoke he
was peering curiously at me. "That's all there is to what we call an
irregular marriage in Scotland, such as this is going to be. When I say
'irregular,' you mustn't think anything wrong. It's as legal as the kind
with banns. If you want to register your marriage, sir, you must make
application to the sheriff of the county; but it's just as binding and
legal without."

"That is what I understood," said Basil. "But, of course, I shall have
it registered. Are you ready, Barrie?"

"Excu