keep quiet. We wot not yet what Duckworth purposes; and when all is

said, and if the worst befall, we may yet clear our feet of it."

Now that they ceased talking, they were aware of a very distant and thin

strain of mirthful music which steadily drew nearer, louder, and merrier.

The bells in the tower began to break forth into a doubling peal, and a

greater and greater concourse of people to crowd into the church,

shuffling the snow from off their feet, and clapping and blowing in their

hands. The western door was flung wide open, showing a glimpse of

sunlit, snowy street, and admitting in a great gust the shrewd air of the

morning; and in short, it became plain by every sign that Lord Shoreby

desired to be married very early in the day, and that the wedding-train

was drawing near.

Some of Lord Shoreby's men now cleared a passage down the middle aisle,

forcing the people back with lance-stocks; and just then, outside the

portal, the secular musicians could be descried drawing near over the

frozen snow, the fifers and trumpeters scarlet in the face with lusty

blowing, the drummers and the cymbalists beating as for a wager.

These, as they drew near the door of the sacred building, filed off on

either side, and, marking time to their own vigorous music, stood

stamping in the snow. As they thus opened their ranks, the leaders of

this noble bridal train appeared behind and between them; and such was

the variety and gaiety of their attire, such the display of silks and

velvet, fur and satin, embroidery and lace, that the procession showed

forth upon the snow like a flower-bed in a path or a painted window in a

The Black Arrow