It is possible that at this moment the two women understood each other better than they had ever done, and respected each other more. Lali, recovering herself, spoke a few soft words of congratulation, and then appeared to busy herself in putting little touches to Marion’s dress, that soft persuasion of fingers which does so much to coax mere cloth into a sort of living harmony with the body.
They had no more words of confidence, but in the porch of the church, Marion, as she passed Lali, caught the slender fingers in her own and pressed them tenderly. Marion was giving comfort, and yet if she had been asked why she could not have told. She did not try to define it further than to say to herself that she herself was having almost too much happiness. The village was en fete, and peasants lined the street leading to the church, ready with their hearty God-bless-you’s. Lali sat between her husband and Mrs. Armour, apparently impassive until there came the question: “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” and General Armour’s voice came clear and strong: “I do.” Then a soft little cry broke from her, and she shivered slightly. Mrs. Armour did not notice, but Frank and Mrs. Lambert heard and saw, and both were afterwards watchful and solicitous. Frank caught Mrs. Lambert’s eye, and it said, to a little motion of the head: “Do not appear to notice.”
Lali was as if in a dream. She never took her eyes from the group at the altar until the end, and the two, now man and wife, turned to go into the vestry. Then she appeared to sink away into herself for a moment, before she fell into conversation with the others, as they moved towards the vestry.
“It was beautiful, wasn’t it?” ventured Edward Lambert.
“The most beautiful wedding I ever saw,” she answered, with a little shadow of meaning; and Lambert guessed that it was the only one she had seen since she came to England.
“How well Vidall looked,” said Frank, “and as proud as a sultan. Did you hear what he said, as Marion came up the aisle?”
“He said, ‘By Jove, isn’t she fine!’ He didn’t seem conscious that other people were present.”
“Well, if a man hasn’t some inspirations on his wedding-day when is he to have them?” said Mrs. Lambert. “For my part, I think that the woman always does that sort of thing better than a man. It is her really great occasion, and she masters it--the comedy is all hers.” They were just then entering the vestry.