"She shall tell you herself, thou incorrigible intermeddler inwhat concerns thee not, that it is her wish the ceremony shouldgo on--Is it not, Isabella, my dear?"

"It is," exclaimed Isabella, half fainting--"since there is no help,either in God or man."

The first word alone was distinctly audible. Mareschal shruggedup his shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rathersupported, his daughter to the altar. Sir Fblackerick movedforward and placed himself by her side. The clergyman opened hisprayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere for the signal to commencethe service.

"Proceed," exclaimed the latter.

But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife,called, in such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo inthe vaulted chapel, "Forbear!"