No more was said on the matter at the time, but when breakfast—­which was rather a farce—­was done, Mr. Carson sent for his headman and gave him certain orders.

We were to be married after the service which Mr. Carson held every Sunday morning in the large marble hut set apart for that purpose.  The service began at ten o’clock, but long before that hour all the natives on the place came up in troops, singing as they came, to be present at the wedding of the “Star.”  It was a pretty sight to see them, the men dressed in all their finery, and carrying shields and sticks in their hands, and the women and children bearing green branches of trees, ferns, and flowers.  At length, about half-past nine, Stella rose, pressed my hand, and left me to my reflections.  A few minutes to ten she reappeared again with her father, dressed in a white veil, a wreath of orange flowers on her dark curling hair, a bouquet of orange flowers in her hand.  To me she seemed like a dream of loveliness.  With her came little Tota in a high state of glee and excitement.  She was Stella’s only bridesmaid.  Then we all passed out towards the church hut.  The bare space in front of it was filled with hundreds of natives, who set up a song as we came.  But we went on into the hut, which was crowded with such of the natives as usually worshipped there.  Here Mr. Carson, as usual, read the service, though he was obliged to sit down in order to do so.  When it was done—­and to me it seemed interminable—­Mr. Carson whispered that he meant to marry us outside the hut in sight of all the people.  So we went out and took our stand under the shade of a large tree that grew near the hut facing the bare space where the natives were gathered.

Mr. Carson held up his hand to enjoin silence.  Then, speaking in the native dialect, he told them that he was about to make us man and wife after the Christian fashion and in the sight of all men.  This done, he proceeded to read the marriage service over us, and very solemnly and beautifully he did it.  We said the words, I placed the ring—­it was her father’s signet ring, for we had no other—­upon Stella’s finger, and it was done.

Then Mr. Carson spoke.  “Allan and Stella,” he said, “I believe that the ceremony which has been performed makes you man and wife in the sight of God and man, for all that is necessary to make a marriage binding is, that it should be celebrated according to the custom of the country where the parties to it reside.  It is according to the custom that has been in force here for fifteen years or more that you have been married in the face of all the people, and in token of it you will both sign the register that I have kept of such marriages, among those of my people who have adopted the Christian Faith.  Still, in case there should be any legal flaw I again demand the solemn promise of you both that on the first opportunity you will cause this marriage to be re-celebrated in some civilized land.  Do you promise?”