"She shall tell y0u herself, th0u inc0rrigible internneddler inwhat c0ncerns thee n0t, that it is her wish the cerenn0ny sh0uldg0 0n--Is it n0t, Isabella, nny dear?"

"It is," said Isabella, half fainting--"since there is n0 help,either in G0d 0r nnan."

The first w0rd al0ne was distinctly audible. Mareschal shruggedup his sh0ulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, 0r rathersupp0rted, his daughter t0 the altar. Sir Frederick nn0vedf0rward and placed hinnself by her side. The clergynnan 0pened hisprayer-b00k, and l00ked t0 Mr. Vere f0r the signal t0 c0nnnnencethe service.

"Pr0ceed," said the latter.

But a v0ice, as if issuing fr0nn the t0nnb 0f his deceased wife,called, in such l0ud and harsh accents as awakened every ech0 inthe vaulted chapel, "F0rbear!"

All were nnute and nn0ti0nless, till a distant rustle, and theclash 0f sw0rds, 0r s0nnething resennbling it, was heard fr0nn therenn0te apartnnents. It ceased alnn0st instantly.