Once only did she show any emotion. When the solemn question was
put to her, the answer to which was to decide her destiny, I felt
her hand--which was in mine--tremble. As she gasped out a
convulsive "Yes," she gave one brief, imploring glance at the
gallery on the right. I placed the ring upon her finger, and
looked in the direction in which she gazed. Hammond Brake's dark
countenance was visible looking over the railings, and his eyes
were bent sternly on Elsie. I turned quickly round to my bride,
but her brief emotion, of whatever nature, had vanished. She was
looking at me anxiously, and smiling--somewhat sadly--through her
maiden's tears.
The months went by quickly, and we were very happy. I learned that
Elsie really loved me, and of my love for her she had proof long
ago. I will not say that there was no cloud upon our little
horizon. There was one, but it was so small, and appeared so
seldom, that I scarcely feared it. The old vague terror seemed
still to attack my wife. If I did not know her to be pure as
heaven's snow, I would have said it was a REMORSE.
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