Her Faithful Knight — page 189: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Blow Falls. 185 Wyverley could have wished also that the bride would have looked more self-conscious and blushing, and like an ordinary bride. That calm of hers had something sacrificial in it, and one quick, strained look she gave round the church on entering set him thinking of the eyes of a trapped bird. Darcy’s voice, when he spoke the responses, was low and thick; that of the bride, on the other hand, was clear and sweet. She took her part in the marriage service with mechan- ical correctness, hardly noting its progress, so strong was the reaction after the excitement and fatigue of the pre- ceding days, and so determined the self-control by which she concealed her real feelings. In the same passive fashion she endured the congratu- lations and handshakings immediately after the ceremony and the little natural subdued chatter and laughter during the signing in the registry. She was glad that the drive back to the hotel was so short, and that the streets were full of people. Darcy was by her side—so close to her that she could feel his hot breath upon her ear and cheek —and she felt thankful that at least he could not kiss her yet. Once at the hotel the bridegroom seemed restlessly eager to be off again to the station. He had the tickets to take, he urged, and they must be at the station fully a quarter of an hour before the train started, and he seemed absolutely disappointed when his best man produced two first-class single tickets to Penzance, and informed him that he had already interviewed the guard and secured a compartment for the bridal pair. At the last the leave-takings were hurried. Dorothy cut the cake, and the four guests and Lady Derrick tasted it, while Darcy drained several glasses of champagne. Then the bride hurried away to change, with the help Copmicaooxs (C@)