Thepresentshadbeensetoutontheextensiontableinthesitting-room。Besidestheparlormelodeon，Trina’sparentshadgivenheranice-waterset，andacarvingknifeandforkwithelk-hornhandles。SelinahadpaintedaviewoftheGoldenGateuponapolishedsliceofredwoodthatansweredthepurposesofapaperweight。MarcusSchouler——afterimpressinguponTrinathathisgiftwastoHER，andnottoMcTeague——hadsentachatelainewatchofGermansilver；
UncleOelbermann’spresent，however，hadbeenawaitedwithagooddealofcuriosity。Whatwouldhesend？Hewasveryrich；inasenseTrinawashisprotege。Acoupleofdaysbeforethatuponwhichtheweddingwastotakeplace，twoboxesarrivedwithhiscard。TrinaandMcTeague，assistedbyOldGrannis，hadopenedthem。Thefirstwasaboxofallsortsoftoys。
“Butwhat——what——Idon’tmakeitout，“McTeaguehadexclaimed。“Whyshouldhesendustoys？Wehavenoneedoftoys。“Scarlettoherhair，Trinadroppedintoachairandlaughedtillshecriedbehindherhandkerchief。
“We’venouseoftoys，“mutteredMcTeague，lookingatherinperplexity。OldGrannissmileddiscreetly，raisingatremuloushandtohischin。
Theotherboxwasheavy，boundwithwithesattheedges，thelettersandstampsburntin。
“Ithink——Ireallythinkit’schampagne，“saidOldGrannisinawhisper。Soitwas。AfullcaseofMonopole。Whatawonder！Noneofthemhadseenthelikebefore。Ah，thisUncleOelbermann！That’swhatitwastoberich。Notoneoftheotherpresentsproducedsodeepanimpressionasthis。
AfterOldGrannisandthedentisthadgonethroughtherooms，givingalastlookaroundtoseethateverythingwasready，theyreturnedtoMcTeague’s“Parlors。“AtthedoorOldGrannisexcusedhimself。
Atfouro’clockMcTeaguebegantodress，shavinghimselffirstbeforethehand-glassthatwashungagainstthewoodworkofthebaywindow。Whileheshavedhesangwithstrangeinappropriateness：
“Noonetolove，nonetoCaress，Leftallaloneinthisworld’swilderness。“
Butashestoodbeforethemirror，intentuponhisshaving，therecamearollofwheelsoverthecobblesinfrontofthehouse。Herushedtothewindow。Trinahadarrivedwithherfatherandmother。Hesawhergetout，andassheglancedupwardathiswindow，theireyesmet。
Ah，thereshewas。Thereshewas，hislittlewoman，lookingupathim，heradorablelittlechinthrustupwardwiththatfamiliarmovementofinnocenceandconfidence。Thedentistsawagain，asifforthefirsttime，hersmall，palefacelookingoutfrombeneathherroyaltiaraofblackhair；
hesawagainherlong，narrowblueeyes；herlips，nose，andtinyears，paleandbloodless，andsuggestiveofanaemia，asifallthevitalitythatshouldhavelentthemcolorhadbeensuckedupintothestrandsandcoilsofthatwonderfulhair。
Astheireyesmettheywavedtheirhandsgaylytoeachother；thenMcTeagueheardTrinaandhermothercomeupthestairsandgointothebedroomofthephotographer’ssuite，whereTrinawastodress。
No，no；surelytherecouldbenolongeranyhesitation。Heknewthathelovedher。Whatwasthematterwithhim，thatheshouldhavedoubteditforaninstant？Thegreatdifficultywasthatshewastoogood，tooadorable，toosweet，toodelicateforhim，whowassohuge，soclumsy，sobrutal。
Therewasaknockatthedoor。ItwasOldGrannis。Hewasdressedinhisoneblacksuitofbroadcloth，muchwrinkled；
hishairwascarefullybrushedoverhisbaldforehead。
“MissTrinahascome，“heannounced，“andtheminister。Youhaveanhouryet。“
Thedentistfinisheddressing。Heworeasuitboughtfortheoccasion——areadymade“PrinceAlbert“coattooshortinthesleeves，striped“blue“trousers，andnewpatentleathershoes——veritableinstrumentsoftorture。AroundhiscollarwasawonderfulnecktiethatTrinahadgivenhim；itwasofsalmon-pinksatin；initscentreSelinahadpaintedaknotofblueforget-me-nots。
Atlength，afteraninterminableperiodofwaiting，Mr。
Sieppeappearedatthedoor。
“Areyoureatty？“heaskedinasepulchralwhisper。“Gome，den。“ItwaslikeKingCharlessummonedtoexecution。Mr。
Sieppeprecededthemintothehall，movingatafunerealpace。Hepaused。Suddenly，inthedirectionofthesitting-
room，camethestrainsoftheparlormelodeon。Mr。Sieppeflunghisarmintheair。
“Vowaarts！“hecried。
Heleftthematthedoorofthesitting-room，hehimselfgoingintothebedroomwhereTrinawaswaiting，enteringbythehalldoor。Hewasinatremendousstateofnervoustension，fearfullestsomethingshouldgowrong。Hehademployedtheperiodofwaitingingoingthroughhispartforthefiftiethtime，repeatingwhathehadtosayinalowvoice。Hehadevenmadechalkmarksonthemattingintheplaceswherehewastotakepositions。
ThedentistandOldGrannisenteredthesitting-room；theministerstoodbehindthelittletableinthebaywindow，holdingabook，onefingermarkingtheplace；hewasrigid，erect，impassive。Oneithersideofhim，inasemi-circle，stoodtheinvitedguests。Alittlepock-markedgentlemaninglasses，nodoubtthefamousUncleOelbermann；MissBaker，inherblackgrenadine，falsecurls，andcoralbrooch；
MarcusSchouler，hisarmsfolded，hisbrowsbent，grandandgloomy；Heisetheharness-maker，inyellowgloves，intentlystudyingthepatternofthematting；andOwgooste，inhisFauntleroy“costume，“stupefiedandalittlefrightened，rollinghiseyesfromfacetoface。Selinasatattheparlormelodeon，fingeringthekeys，herglancewanderingtothechenilleportieres。ShestoppedplayingasMcTeagueandOldGrannisenteredandtooktheirplaces。Aprofoundsilenceensued。UncleOelbermann’sshirtfrontcouldbeheardcreakingashebreathed。Themostsolemnexpressionpervadedeveryface。
Allatoncetheportiereswereshakenviolently。Itwasasignal。Selinapulledopenthestopsandswungintotheweddingmarch。
Trinaentered。Shewasdressedinwhitesilk，acrownoforangeblossomswasaroundherswarthyhair——dressedhighforthefirsttime——herveilreachedtothefloor。Herfacewaspink，butotherwiseshewascalm。Shelookedquietlyaroundtheroomasshecrossedit，untilherglancerestedonMcTeague，smilingathimthenveryprettilyandwithperfectself-possession。
Shewasonherfather’sarm。Thetwins，dressedexactlyalike，walkedinfront，eachcarryinganenormousbouquetofcutflowersina“lace-paper“holder。Mrs。Sieppefollowedintherear。Shewascrying；herhandkerchiefwasrolledintoawad。FromtimetotimeshelookedatthetrainofTrina’sdressthroughhertears。Mr。Sieppemarchedhisdaughtertotheexactmiddleofthefloor，wheeledatrightangles，andbroughtheruptotheminister。Hesteppedbackthreepaces，andstoodplantedupononeofhischalkmarks，hisfaceglisteningwithperspiration。
ThenTrinaandthedentistweremarried。Theguestsstoodinconstrainedattitudes，lookingfurtivelyoutofthecornersoftheireyes。Mr。Sieppenevermovedamuscle；
Mrs。Sieppecriedintoherhandkerchiefallthetime。AtthemelodeonSelinaplayed“CallMeThineOwn，“verysoftly，thetremulostoppulledout。Shelookedoverhershoulderfromtimetotime。Betweenthepausesofthemusiconecouldhearthelowtonesoftheminister，theresponsesoftheparticipants，andthesuppressedsoundsofMrs。Sieppe’sweeping。Outsidethenoisesofthestreetrosetothewindowsinmuffledundertones，acablecarrumbledpast，anewsboywentbychantingtheeveningpapers；fromsomewhereinthebuildingitselfcameapersistentnoiseofsawing。
TrinaandMcTeagueknelt。Thedentist’skneesthuddedonthefloorandhepresentedtoviewthesolesofhisshoes，painfullynewandunworn，theleatherstillyellow，thebrassnailheadsstillglittering。Trinasankathissideverygracefully，settingherdressandtrainwithalittlegestureofherfreehand。Thecompanybowedtheirheads，Mr。Sieppeshuttinghiseyestight。ButMrs。SieppetookadvantageofthemomenttostopcryingandmakefurtivegesturestowardsOwgooste，signinghimtopulldownhiscoat。ButOwgoostegavenoheed；hiseyeswerestartingfromtheirsockets，hischinhaddroppeduponhislacecollar，andhisheadturnedvaguelyfromsidetosidewithacontinuedandmaniacalmotion。
Allatoncetheceremonywasoverbeforeanyoneexpectedit。Theguestskepttheirpositionsforamoment，eyeingoneanother，eachfearingtomakethefirstmove，notquitecertainastowhetherornoteverythingwerefinished。Butthecouplefacedtheroom，Trinathrowingbackherveil。
She——perhapsMcTeagueaswell——feltthattherewasacertaininadequatenessabouttheceremony。Wasthatalltherewastoit？Didjustthosefewmutteredphrasesmakethemmanandwife？Ithadbeenoverinafewmoments，butithadboundthemforlife。Hadnotsomethingbeenleftout？Wasnotthewholeaffaircursory，superficial？Itwasdisappointing。
ButTrinahadnotimetodwelluponthis。MarcusSchouler，inthemannerofamanoftheworld，whoknewhowtoactineverysituation，steppedforwardand，evenbeforeMr。orMrs。Sieppe，tookTrina’shand。
“LetmebethefirsttocongratulateMrs。McTeague，“hesaid，feelingverynobleandheroic。Thestrainofthepreviousmomentswasrelaxedimmediately，theguestscrowdedaroundthepair，shakinghands——ababeloftalkarose。
“Owgooste，WILLyoupulldownyourgoat，den？“
“Well，mydear，nowyou’remarriedandhappy。WhenIfirstsawyoutwotogether，Isaid，’Whatapair！’We’retobeneighborsnow；youmustcomeupandseemeveryoftenandwe’llhaveteatogether。“
“Didyouhearthatsawinggoingonallthetime？Ideclareitregularlygotonmynerves。“
Trinakissedherfatherandmother，cryingalittleherselfasshesawthetearsinMrs。Sieppe’seyes。
Marcuscameforwardasecondtime，and，withanairofgreatgravity，kissedhiscousinupontheforehead。HeisewasintroducedtoTrinaandUncleOelbermanntothedentist。
Forupwardsofhalfanhourtheguestsstoodaboutingroups，fillingthelittlesitting-roomwithagreatchatteroftalk。Thenitwastimetomakereadyforsupper。
Thiswasatremendoustask，inwhichnearlyalltheguestswereobligedtoassist。Thesitting-roomwastransformedintoadining-room。Thepresentswereremovedfromtheextensiontableandthetabledrawnouttoitsfulllength。
Theclothwaslaid，thechairs——rentedfromthedancingacademyhardby——drawnup，thedishessetout，andthetwobouquetsofcutflowerstakenfromthetwinsundertheirshrillprotests，and“arranged“invasesateitherendofthetable。
Therewasagreatcomingandgoingbetweenthekitchenandthesitting-room。Trina，whowasallowedtodonothing，satinthebaywindowandfretted，callingtohermotherfromtimetotime：
“Thenapkinsareintheright-handdrawerofthepantry。“
“Yes，yes，Igotum。Wheredoyougeepderzoupblates？“
“Thesoupplatesareherealready。“
“Say，CousinTrina，isthereacorkscrew？Whatishomewithoutacorkscrew？“
“Inthekitchen-tabledrawer，intheleft-handcorner。“
“Arethesetheforksyouwanttouse，Mrs。McTeague？“
“No，no，there’ssomesilverforks。Mammaknowswhere。“