第61章

“Look，look！”screamedthebridemaid。“Whatishere？Thefuneral！”

Asshespoke，adarkprocessionpacedintothechurch。Firstcame

anoldmanandwoman，likechiefmournersatafuneral，attiredfrom

headtofootinthedeepestblack，allbuttheirpalefeaturesand

hoaryhair；heleaningonastaff，andsupportingherdecrepitform

withhisnervelessarm。Behindappearedanother，andanotherpair，

asaged，asblack，andmournfulasthefirst。Astheydrewnear，the

widowrecognizedineveryfacesometraitofformerfriends，long

forgotten，butnowreturning，asiffromtheiroldgraves，towarnher

toprepareashroud；or，withpurposealmostasunwelcome，to

exhibittheirwrinklesandinfirmity，andclaimherastheircompanion

bythetokensofherowndecay。Manyamerrynighthadshedancedwith

them，inyouth。Andnow，injoylessage，shefeltthatsomewithered

partnershouldrequestherhand，andallunite，inadanceofdeath，

tothemusicofthefuneralbell。

Whiletheseagedmournerswerepassinguptheaisle，itwas

observedthat，frompewtopew，thespectatorsshudderedwith

irrepressibleawe，assomeobject，hithertoconcealedbythe

interveningfigures，camefullinsight。Manyturnedawaytheirfaces；

otherskeptafixedandrigidstare；andayounggirlgiggled

hysterically，andfaintedwiththelaughteronherlips。Whenthe

spectralprocessionapproachedthealtar，eachcoupleseparated，and

slowlydiverged，till，inthecentre，appearedaform，thathadbeen

worthilyusheredinwithallthisgloomypomp，thedeathknell，and

thefuneral。Itwasthebridegroominhisshroud！

Nogarbbutthatofthegravecouldhavebefittedsucha

deathlikeaspect；theeyes，indeed，hadthewildgleamofasepulchral

lamp；allelsewasfixedinthesterncalmnesswhicholdmenwearin

thecoffin。Thecorpsestoodmotionless，butaddressedthewidowin

accentsthatseemedtomeltintotheclangofthebell，whichfell

heavilyontheairwhilehespoke。

“Come，mybride！”saidthosepalelips，“thehearseisready。The

sextonstandswaitingforusatthedoorofthetomb。Letusbe

married；andthentoourcoffins！”

Howshallthewidow’shorrorberepresented？Itgaveherthe

ghastlinessofadeadman’sbride。Heryouthfulfriendsstoodapart，

shudderingatthemourners，theshroudedbridegroom，andherself；

thewholesceneexpressed，bythestrongestimagery，thevainstruggle

ofthegildedvanitiesofthisworld，whenopposedtoage，

infirmity，sorrow，anddeath。Theawestrucksilencewasfirstbroken

bytheclergyman。

“Mr。Ellenwood。”saidhe，soothingly，yetwithsomewhatof

authority，“youarenotwell。Yourmindhasbeenagitatedbythe

unusualcircumstancesinwhichyouareplaced。Theceremonymustbe

deferred。Asanoldfriend，letmeentreatyoutoreturnhome。”

“Home！yes，butnotwithoutmybride。”answeredhe，inthesame

hollowaccents。“Youdeemthismockery；perhapsmadness。HadI

bedizenedmyagedandbrokenframewithscarletandembroidery-had

Iforcedmywitheredlipstosmileatmydeadheart-thatmighthave

beenmockery，ormadness。Butnow，letyoungandolddeclare，whichof

ushascomehitherwithoutaweddinggarment，thebridegroomorthe

bride！”

Hesteppedforwardataghostlypace，andstoodbesidethewidow，

contrastingtheawfulsimplicityofhisshroudwiththeglareand

glitterinwhichshehadarrayedherselfforthisunhappyscene。None，

thatbeheldthem，coulddenytheterriblestrengthofthemoral

whichhisdisorderedintellecthadcontrivedtodraw。

“Cruel！cruel！”groanedtheheart-strickenbride。

“Cruel！”repeatedhe；then，losinghisdeathlikecomposureina

wildbitterness：“Heavenjudgewhichofushasbeencrueltothe

other！Inyouthyoudeprivedmeofmyhappiness，myhopes，myaims；

youtookawayallthesubstanceofmylife，andmadeitadream

withoutrealityenougheventogrieveat-withonlyapervadinggloom，

throughwhichIwalkedwearily，andcarednotwhither。Butafterforty

years，whenIhavebuiltmytomb，andwouldnotgiveupthethoughtof

restingthere-no，notforsuchalifeasweoncepictured-youcall

metothealtar。AtyoursummonsIamhere。Butotherhusbandshave

enjoyedyouryouth，yourbeauty，yourwarmthofheart，andallthat

couldbetermedyourlife。Whatisthereformebutyourdecayand

death？AndthereforeIhavebiddenthesefuneralfriends，andbespoken

thesexton’sdeepestknell，andamcome，inmyshroud，towedy