assistedbyDianaandLadyHorton—madepreparationforhermarriageasspiritedwomenhavemadepreparationforthescaffold,determinedtoshowtheworldabrave,sereneexterior。ThesacrificewasnecessaryforRichard\'ssake。Thatwasathinglongsincedetermined。YetitwouldhavebeensomecomforttohertohavehadRichardatherside;
itwouldhavelentherstrengthtohavehadhiskissofthanksfortheholocaustwhichforhimshewasmakingofallthatawomanholdsmostdearandsacred。ButRichardwasaway—hehadbeenabsentsinceyesterday,andnonecouldtellherwherehetarried。
WithLadyHortonandDianashetookherwaytoSaintMary\'sChurchatnoon,andthereshefoundMr。Wilding—veryfineinasuitofsky—bluesatin,lacedwithsilver—awaitingher。AndwithhimwasoldLordGervaseScoresby,hisfriendandcousin,theveryincarnationofbenignityandruddyhealth。
ForawonderNickTrenchardwasnotatMr。Wilding\'sside。ButNickhaddefinitelyrefusedtobeoftheparty,emphasizinghisrefusalbycertainchoicereflectionswhollyunflatteringtothemarriedstate。
Someidlersofthetownweretheonlywitnesses—andlittledidtheyguesstheextentofthetragedytheywerewitnessing。Therewasnomusic,andtheceremonywasbriefandsoonatanend。Theonlytouchofjoy,offestiveness,wasthataffordedbythechoicebloomswithwhichMr。Wildinghadsmotherednaveandchoirandaltar—rails。