第35章

lookedlovely；IknewtoowellIdidn’tlookmyself。IlookedlikeaspecialcolouredsupplementtoMen’sWear，orTheTailorandCutter，FullDressForCeremonialOccasions。Ihadeventhedisconcertingsensationsofanunfamiliarcollar。Ifeltlost——inastrangebody，andwhenIglanceddownmyselfforreassurance，thestraightwhiteabdomen，thealienlegsconfirmedthatimpression。

Myunclewasmybestman，andlookedlikeabanker——alittlebanker——inflower。Heworeawhiteroseinhisbuttonhole。Hewasn’t，Ithink，particularlytalkative。AtleastIrecallverylittlefromhim。

“George“hesaidonceortwice，“thisisagreatoccasionforyou——averygreatoccasion。”Hespokealittledoubtfully。

YouseeIhadtoldhimnothingaboutMarionuntilaboutaweekbeforethewedding；bothheandmyaunthadbeentakenaltogetherbysurprise。Theycouldn’t，aspeoplesay，“makeitout。”Myauntwasintenselyinterested，muchmorethanmyuncle；itwasthen，Ithink，forthefirsttimethatIreallysawthatshecaredforme。Shegotmealone，Iremember，afterIhadmademyannouncement。“Now，George。”shesaid，“tellmeeverythingabouther。Whydidn’tyoutell——MEatleast——before？”

IwassurprisedtofindhowdifficultitwastotellheraboutMarion。Iperplexedher。

“Thenisshebeautiful？”sheaskedatlast。

“Idon’tknowwhatyou’llthinkofher。”Iparried。“Ithink——“

“Yes？”

“Ithinkshemightbethemostbeautifulpersonintheworld。”

“Andisn’tshe？Toyou？”

“Ofcourse。”Isaid，noddingmyhead。“Yes。SheIS。”

AndwhileIdon’trememberanythingmyunclesaidordidatthewedding，Idorememberverydistinctlycertainlittlethings，scrutiny，solicitude，acuriousrareflashofintimacyinmyaunt’seyes。ItdawnedonmethatIwasn’thidinganythingfromheratall。Shewasdressedverysmartly，wearingabig-plumedhatthatmadeherneckseemlongerandslendererthanever，andwhenshewalkeduptheaislewiththatrollingstrideofhersandhereyeallonMarion，perplexedintoself-forgetfulness，itwasn’tsomehowfunny。Shewas，Idobelieve，givingmymarriagemorethoughtthanIhaddone，shewasconcernedbeyondmeasureatmyblackrageandMarion’sblindness，shewaslookingwitheyesthatknewwhatlovingis——forlove。

Inthevestrysheturnedawayaswesigned，andIverilybelieveshewascrying，thoughtothisdayIcan’tsaywhysheshouldhavecried，andshewasnearcryingtoowhenshesqueezedmyhandatparting——andsheneversaidawordorlookedatme，butjustsqueezedmyhand。

IfIhadnotbeensogriminspirit，IthinkIshouldhavefoundmuchofmyweddingamusing。Irememberalotofridiculousdetailthatstilldeclinestobefunnyinmymemory。Theofficiatingclergymanhadacold，andturnedhis“n’s“to“d’s。”

andhemadethemostmechanicalcomplimentconceivableaboutthebride’sagewhentheregisterwassigned。Everybridehehadevermarriedhadhadit，oneknew。Andtwomiddle-agedspinsters，cousinsofMarion’sanddressmakersatBarking，standout。Theyworemarvellouslybrightandgayblousesanddimoldskirts，andhadanimmenserespectforMr。Ramboat。Theythrewrice；theybroughtawholebagwiththemandgavehandfulsawaytounknownlittleboysatthechurchdoorandsocreatedaLilliputianriot；andonehadmeanttothrowaslipper。Itwasaverywa