"
Bet did not speak. She clasped both her hands over Will's, and looked
anxiously over her shoulder to right and left.
"Don't worry her," whispered Hester Wright. "She has a dread on her,
and there's no argufying it away. After you are wed it will pass. Don't
worry her with questions."
Will sighed, and a cold little cloud seemed to come between him and
the sun of happiness in which he had been basking all the morning.
Just then there was a bustle and a little commotion. It was only the
verger unlocking the church doors. A small crowd of people who scent
out even the humblest wedding had already collected-mostly ragged
people, shoeless and stockingless boys and girls, women who sold
watercress, one or two loafers from the wharves. Will, Bet and Hester
were just about to go into the church, when into the midst of this
motley group a man neatly dressed in plain clothes stepped briskly.
He came straight up to Scarlett.
"Is your name William Scarlett?" he said, "and do you live at Mrs.
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