Her reproaches to Jim were entirely2 perfunctory, on the sin of his early call on their wedding-day.
“Naughty boy!” she cried with mock severity. “At this unseemly hour!”
He glanced about the room nervously3.
“Anybody in there?”
He nodded toward the kitchenette.
“Only Ella——”
“Send her away.”
“What's the matter?”
“Quick, Kiddo—quick!”
Mary let Ella out from the little private hall without her seeing Jim, and returned.
“For heaven's sake, man, what ails4 you?” she asked excitedly.
“Say—I forgot that thing already. We got to go over it again. What if I miss it?”
“The ceremony?”
“Yep——”
He mopped his brow and looked at his watch.
“By the time we get to that preacher's house, I won't know my first name if you don't help me.”
Mary laughed softly and kissed him.
“You can't miss it. All you've got to do is say, `I will' when he asks you the question, put the ring on my finger when he tells you, and repeat the words after him—he and I will do the rest.”
“Say my question over again.”
“`Wilt5 thou have this woman to thy wedded6 wife, to live together after God's ordinance7, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking8 all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?'”
She looked at him and laughed.
“Why don't you answer?”
“Now?”
“Yes—that's the end of the question. Say, `I will.'”
“Oh, I will all right! What scares me is that I'll jump in on him and say `I will' before he gets halfway9 through. Seems to me when he says, `Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife?' I'll just have to choke myself there to keep from saying, `You bet your life I will, Parson!'”
“It won't hurt anything if you say, `I will' several times,” she assured him.
“It wouldn't queer the job?”
“Not in the least. I've often heard them say, `I will' two or three times. Wait until you hear the words, `so long as ye both shall live——'”
“`So long as ye both shall live,'” he repeated solemnly.
“The other speech you say after the minister.”
“He won't bite off more than I can chew at one time, will he?”
“No, silly—just a few words——”
“Because if he does, I'll choke.”
Jim drew his watch again, mopped his brow, and gazed at Mary's serene10 face with wonder.
“Say, Kiddo, you're immense—you're as cool as a cucumber!”
“Of course. Why not? It's my day of joy and perfect peace—the day I've dreamed of since the dawn of maidenhood11. I'm marrying the man of my choice—the one man God made for me of all men on earth. I know this—I'm content.”
“Let me hang around here till time—won't you?” he asked helplessly.
“We must have Ella come back to fix the table.”
“Sure. I just didn't want her to hear me tell you that I had cold feet. I'm better now.”
Ella moved about the room with soft tread, watching Jim with sullen12, concentrated gaze when he was not looking.
The lovers sat on the couch beside the window, holding each other's hands and watching in silence the hurrying crowds pass below. Now that his panic was over, Jim began to breathe more freely, and the time swiftly passed.
As the shadows slowly fell, they rang the bell at the parson's house beside the church, and his good wife ushered13 them into the parlor14. The little Craddocks crowded in—six of them, two girls and four boys, their ages ranging from five to nineteen.
Sweet memories crowded the girl's heart from her happy childhood. She had never missed one of these affairs at home. Her father was a very popular minister and his home the Mecca of lovers for miles around.
Craddock, like her father, was inclined to be conservative in his forms. Marriage he held with the old theologians to be a holy sacrament. He never used the new-fangled marriage vows15. He stuck to the formula of the Book of Common Prayer.
When she stood before the preacher in this beautiful familiar scene which she had witnessed so many times at home, Mary's heart beat with a joy that was positively16 silly. She tried to be serious, and the dimple would come in her cheek in spite of every effort.
As Craddock's musical voice began the opening address, the memory of a foolish incident in her father's life flashed through her mind, and she wondered if Jim in his excitement had forgotten his pocket-book and couldn't pay the preacher.
“Dearly beloved,” he began, “we are gathered together here in the sight of God——”
Mary tried to remember that she was in the sight of God, but she was so foolishly happy she could only remember that funny scene. A long-legged Kentucky mountain bridegroom at the close of the ceremony had turned to her father and drawled:
“Well, parson, I ain't got no money with me—but I want to give ye five dollars. I've got a fine dawg. He's worth ten. I'll send him to ye fur five—if it's all right?”
The children had giggled18 and her father blushed.
“Oh, that's all right,” he had answered. “Money's no matter. Forget the five. I hope you'll be very happy.”
Two weeks later a crate19 containing the dog had come by express. On the tag was scrawled20:
Dear Parson:—I like Nancy so well, I send ye the hole dawg, anyhow.
She hadn't a doubt that Jim would feel the same way—but she hoped he hadn't forgotten his pocketbook.
The scene had flashed through her mind in a single moment. She had bitten her lips and kept from laughing by a supreme21 effort. Not a word of the solemn ceremonial, however, had escaped her consciousness.
“And in the face of this company,” the preacher's rich voice was saying, “to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently22, discreetly23, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully24 be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.”
Craddock paused, and his piercing eyes searched the man and woman before him.
“I require to charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment26, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it——”
Again he paused. The perspiration27 stood in beads28 on Jim's forehead, and he glanced uneasily at Mary from the corners of his drooping29 eyes. A smile was playing about her mouth, and Jim was cheered.
“For be ye well assured,” the preacher continued, “that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's Word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful25.”
He turned with deliberation to Jim and transfixed him with the first question of the ceremony. The groom17 was hypnotized into a state of abject31 terror. His ears heard the words; the mind recorded but the vaguest idea of what they meant.
“Wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Jim's mouth was open; his lower jaw32 had dropped in dazed awe33, and he continued to stare straight into the preacher's face until Mary pressed his arm and whispered:
“Jim!”
“I will—yes, I will—you bet I will!” he hastened to answer.
The children giggled, and the preacher's lips twitched34.
He turned quickly to Mary.
“Wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
With quick, clear voice, Mary answered:
“I will.”
“Please join your right hands and repeat after me:”
He fixed30 Jim with his gaze and spoke35 with deliberation, clause by clause:
“I, James, take thee, Mary, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight36 thee my troth.”
Jim's throat at first was husky with fear, but he caught each clause with quick precision and repeated them without a hitch37.
He smiled and congratulated himself: “I got ye that time, old cull38!”
The preacher's eyes sought Mary's:
“I, Mary, take thee, James, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”
In the sweetest musical voice, quivering with happiness, the girl repeated the words.
Again the preacher's eyes sought Jim's:
AND THE MAN SHALL GIVE UNTO THE WOMAN A RING——
The groom fumbled39 in his pocket and found at last the ring, which he handed to Mary. The minister at once took it from her hand and handed it back to Jim.
The bride lifted her left hand, deftly40 extending the fourth finger, and the groom slipped the ring on, and held it firmly gripped as he had been instructed.
“With this ring I thee wed——”
“With this ring I thee wed——” Jim repeated firmly.
“——and with all my worldly goods I thee endow——”
“——and with all my worldly goods I thee endow——”
“In the Name of the Father——”
“In the Name of the Father——”
“——and of the Son——”
“——and of the Son——”
“——and of the Holy Ghost——”
“——and of the Holy Ghost——”
“Amen!”
“Amen!”
The voice of the preacher's prayer that followed rang far-away and unreal to the heart of the girl. Her vivid imagination had leaped the years. Her spirit did not return to earth and time and place until the minister seized her right hand and joined it to Jim's.
“Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder41!
“Forasmuch as James Anthony and Mary Adams have consented together in holy wedlock42, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
The preacher lifted his hands solemnly above their heads.
“God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with His favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction43 and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting44. AMEN.”
The preacher took Mary's hand.
“Your father is my friend, child. This is for him——”
He bent45 quickly and kissed her lips, while Jim gasped46 in astonishment47.
The minister's wife congratulated them both. The two older children smilingly advanced and added their voices in good wishes.
Mary whispered to Jim:
“Don't forget the preacher's fee!”
“Lord, how much? Will fifty be enough? It's all I've got.”
“Give him twenty. We'll need the rest.”
It was not until they were seated in the waiting cab and sank back among the shadows, that Jim crushed her in his arms and kissed her until she cried for mercy.
“The gall48 of that preacher, kissing you!” he muttered savagely49. “You know, I come within an ace1 of pasting him one on the nose!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ace
|
|
| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ails
|
|
| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
wilt
|
|
| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
wedded
|
|
| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ordinance
|
|
| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
forsaking
|
|
| 放弃( forsake的现在分词 )； 弃绝； 抛弃； 摒弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
serene
|
|
| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
maidenhood
|
|
| n. 处女性, 处女时代 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
12
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
parlor
|
|
| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
vows
|
|
| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
groom
|
|
| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
giggled
|
|
| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
crate
|
|
| vt.(up)把…装入箱中；n.板条箱，装货箱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
scrawled
|
|
| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
reverently
|
|
| adv.虔诚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
discreetly
|
|
| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lawfully
|
|
| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lawful
|
|
| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
perspiration
|
|
| n.汗水；出汗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
abject
|
|
| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
plight
|
|
| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
cull
|
|
| v.拣选；剔除；n.拣出的东西；剔除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
fumbled
|
|
| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
deftly
|
|
| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
asunder
|
|
| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
wedlock
|
|
| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
benediction
|
|
| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
gall
|
|
| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |