Ishmael, like one in a splendid, terrible dream, from which he could not wake, in which he was obliged to act, went up to Bee and drew her little white-gloved hand under his arm, and led her after the father and daughter.

The other members of the marriage party followed in order.

Besides Judge Merlin’s brougham and Mr. Middleton’s barouche, there were several other carriages drawn up before the house.

Bee surveyed this retinue and murmured: 

“Indeed, except that we all wear light colors instead of black, and the coachmen have no hat-scarfs, this looks quite as much like a funeral as a wedding.”

Ishmael did not reply; he could not wake from the dazzling, horrible dream.

When they were seated in the carriage, Claudia and Beatrice occupied the back seat; the judge and Ishmael the front one; the judge sat opposite Bee, and Ishmael opposite Claudia.

The rich drifts of shining white satin and misty white lace that formed her bridal dress floated around him; her foot inadvertently touched his, and her warm, balmy breath passed him.  Never had he been so close to Claudia before; that carriage was so confined and crowded—­dread proximity!  The dream deepened; it became a trance—­that strange trance that sometimes falls upon the victim in the midst of his sufferings held Ishmael’s faculties in abeyance and deadened his sense of pain.

And indeed the same spell, though with less force, acted upon all the party in that carriage.  Its mood was expectant, excited, yet dream-like.  There was scarcely any conversation.  There seldom is under such circumstances.  Once the judge inquired: 

“Bee, my dear, how is it that you are not one of Claudia’s bridesmaids?”

“I did not wish to be, and Claudia was so kind as to excuse me,” Beatrice replied.

“But why not, my love?  I thought young ladies always liked to fill such positions.”

Bee blushed and lowered her head, but did not reply.

Claudia answered for her: 

“Beatrice does not like Lord Vincent; and does not approve of the marriage,” she said defiantly.

“Humph!” exclaimed the judge, and not another word was spoken during the drive.

It was a rather long one.  The church selected for the performance of the marriage rites being St. John’s, at the west end of the town, where the bridegroom and his friends were to meet the bride and her attendants.

They reached the church at last; the other carriages arrived a few seconds after them, and the whole party alighted and went in.

The bridegroom and his friends were already there.  And the bridal procession formed and went up the middle aisle to the altar, where the bishop in his sacerdotal robes stood ready to perform the ceremony.

The bridal party formed before the altar, the bishop opened the book, and the ceremony commenced.  It proceeded according to the ritual, and without the slightest deviation from commonplace routine.