to
the altar; the clergyman, weary of delay, hurried the service, and in
a few minutes the young creatures who eight weeks before had scarcely
heard each other's names, were made "not two, but one flesh."

It was all like a dream to Agatha Bowen; she never believed in its
reality until, signing that name, "Agatha Bowen," in the register-book,
she remembered she was so signing it for the last time. A moment after,
Emma's husband, who had assumed the office of father to the bride,
cordially shaking her hand, wished all happiness to _Mrs. Harper_.

Agatha started, shivered, and burst into tears. It was a natural thing,
after so many hours of overstrained excitement; nor were her tears those
of unhappiness, yet they seemed, every drop, to burn on her bridegroom's
heart. To crown all, while these unlucky tears were still falling, some
one at the vestry door cried out, "There's Major Harper."

It was indeed himself. He entered the church hurriedly--very pale--with
beads of dew standing on his brow.

"Are they married? Am I too late--are they married?" cried he.

Some uncontrollable feeling made Nathanael move to his wife's side, and
snatch her hand.

"Yes," said he, meeting his brother's eye, "we are married."

Major Harper sank into one of the vestry-chairs, muttering something,
inaudible to all ears save those which seemed fatally gifted with
preternatural acuteness--the young bridegroom's. Nathanael fancied--nay,
was certain--that he heard his brother say, "_Oh, my poor Agatha._" He
looked suddenly at his bride, whose weeping had changed into silent but
violent trembling. He dropped her hand, then with a determined air again
took possession of it, saying sharply to his brother:

"What is the reason of all this? Is anything amiss?"

"No, nothing--have I said anything?"

"Then why startle us thus? It is not right, Frederick."

"Hush--perhaps he is ill," whispered Anne Valery.

Major Harper looked up, and among the many inquiring eyes, met hers. It
seemed to fix him, sting him, rouse him to self-command.

"I am quite well," he cried, with a hoarse attempt at laughter. "A gay
bachelor always feels doubly cheery at a wedding. So it is all over,
Nathanael? I beg your pardon for being too late; but I have been running
about town on important business, till I am half-dead. Still, let me
offer my congratulations to the bride."

He came forward jauntily, seized Agatha's hand and was about to kiss
it, but for a slight