see it; whereas I said (to myself, at least), "I will go through it like
a grave-digger."

Lorna's dress was of pure white, clouded with faint lavender (for the
sake of the old Earl Brandir), and as simple as need be, except for
perfect loveliness. I was afraid to look at her, as I said before,
except when each of us said, "I will;" and then each dwelt upon
the other.

It is impossible for any who have not loved as I have to conceive my joy
and pride when, after ring and all was done, and the parson had blessed
us, Lorna turned to look at me with her glances of subtle fun subdued by
this great act.

Her eyes, which none on earth may ever equal or compare with, told me
such a depth of comfort, yet awaiting further commune, that I was almost
amazed, thoroughly as I knew them. Darling eyes, the sweetest eyes, the
loveliest, the most loving eyes--the sound of a shot rang through the
church, and those eyes were filled with death.

Lorna fell across my knees when I was going to kiss her, as the
bridegroom is allowed to do, and encouraged, if he needs it: a flood of
blood came out upon the yellow wood of the altar steps; and at my feet
lay Lorna, trying to tell me some last message out of her faithful eyes.
I lifted her up, and petted her, and coaxed her, but it was no good; the
only sign of life remaining was a spurt of bright red blood.

Some men know what things befall them in the supreme time of their
life--far above the time of death--but to me comes back as a hazy dream,
without any knowledge in it, what I did, or felt, or thought, with my
wife's arms flagging, flagging, around my neck, as I raised her up, and
softly put them there. She sighed a long sigh on my breast, for her last
farewell to life, and then she grew so cold, and cold, that I asked the
time of year.

It was now Whit-Tuesday, and the lilacs all in blossom; and why I
thought of the time of year, with the young death in my arms, God or his
angels may decide, having so strangely given us. Enough that so I did,
and looked, and our white lilacs were beautiful. Then I laid my wife in
my mother's arms, and begging that no one would make a noise, went forth
for my revenge.

Of course I knew who had done it. There was but one man in the world, or
at any rate in our part of it, who could have done such a thing--such a
thing. I use no harsher word about it, while I leaped upon our best
horse, with bridle, but no saddle, and set the head of Kickums toward