The bride's friend (a
resolute-looking little lady) encourages her in whispers. The two
respectable persons, apparently man and wife, who complete the
procession, seem to be not quite clear as to the position which they
occupy at the ceremony. The beadle, as he marshals them before the
altar, sees something under the surface in this wedding-party. Marriages
in the lower ranks of life are the only marriages celebrated here. Is
this a runaway match? The beadle anticipates something out of the common
in the shape of a fee.
The clergyman (the junior curate) appears from the vestry in his robes.
The clerk takes his place. The clergyman's eye rests with a sudden
interest and curiosity on the bride and bridegroom, and on the bride's
friend; notices the absence of elderly relatives; remarks, in the
two ladies especially, evidences of refinement and breeding entirely
unparalleled in his professional experience of brides and brides'
friends standing before the altar of that church; questions, silently
and quickly, the eye of the clerk, occupied also in observing the
strangers with interest "Jenkinson" (the clergyman's look asks), "is
this all right?" "Sir" (the clerk's look answers), "a marriage by banns;
all the formalities have been observed.
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