was a loud whispering in the
church, which was suppressed by several hushes! as one of the clergymen
approached the wedding party, all present being eager to catch his words
as the _contretemps_ was now grasped.

"Will you step into the vestry for a few minutes? Some trifling mishap,
perhaps--to the carriage or one of the horses. Perhaps an error about
the time."

"No, no," said the admiral sternly. "We will wait here, sir. No; Myra,
take my arm; you shall not submit to this."

She was deadly pale, but she made no movement to obey.

"Not yet," she said in a low voice. "We must wait."

"It is impossible, I tell you!" cried the admiral loudly, for his rage
and mortification would have their way. "My dear girl! Hold up your
head; the shame is not yours. Guest, take my sister and niece to the
other carriage." Then, snatching Myra's hand, he led her back to the
door, his grey beard and moustache seeming to bristle as his eyes
flashed rage and defiance from side to side, till they reached the
portico, where a man stepped forward.

"The bells, sir?" he whispered deferentially; "the ringers are all
here?"

That was the last straw--a brazen one.

With an angry snort the admiral caught the man by the shoulder and swung
him out of the way, signalling directly after for his carriage, which,
as the coachman and footman had not expected to be wanted for some time
yet, stood right away, with the servants chatting by the horses' heads.

Not above a minute before the carriage was drawn up, but it was like an
age to those who listened to the whispering and giggling going on.

For the words "No bridegroom!" had reached the little crowd outside as
soon as the retiring wedding party; and as Guest heard a remark or two
made, there was a singing in his ears, and an insane desire to rush at
some staring idiot and thrash him within an inch of his life.

But he glanced at Myra as he pressed Edie's hand against his side, and
saw that the bride's head was erect and that she stepped proudly into
the carriage. Then the admiral took his seat by her side and said
firmly:

"Home!"

"To the hotel, sir?" said the footman.

"Home!" roared Sir Mark.

The footman sprang up to his seat, the carriage was driven off, and with
the crowd increasing Miss Jerrold's took its place.

"Quick, Mr Guest," whispered the admiral's sister. "She is fainting."

He had felt Edie's hand pressing more and more upon his arm, but in his
exciteme