"Oh, it is all very well for you to talk like that, Ellis; but nothing
you say can lessen the bitterness of parting from Valmai. It is my own
wish to go, and nothing shall prevent me; but I could bear the
separation with much more fortitude if only--"
And he stopped and looked landwards, where the indistinct grey blur was
beginning to take the pattern of fields and cliffs and beach.
"If what?" said Ellis, shifting the sail a little.
"If only I were married to Valmai."
"Phew! what next?" said Ellis, "married! Cardo Wynne, you are bringing
things to a climax. My dear fellow, it would be far harder to part
from a wife of a week than from a sweetheart of a year. That's my idea
of wedded bliss, you see."
"Nonsense; it would not!" said Cardo. "It would give me a sense of
security--a feeling that, come fair or come foul, nothing could really
come between me and Valmai; and besides, I should not want her to be
the wife of a week--I should be satisfied to be married even on the
morning of my departure. Come, Ellis, be my friend in this matter.
You promised when I first told you of my love for Valmai that you would
help us out of our difficulties. You are an ordained priest; can you
not marry us in the old church on the morning of the 14th? You know
the Burrawalla sails on the 15th, and I go down to Fordsea the day
before, but not till noon. Can you not marry us in the morning?"
"Has Valmai consented?" asked Ellis, sinking down in the prow of the
boat and looking seriously at his companion.
"I--I--have not pressed the question, but if she agrees, will you do
it?"
"Do it? My dear fellow, you talk as if it were a very simple affair.
Do it, indeed! Where are the banns?"
"I would buy a license."
"And the ring?"
"At Caer Madoc." And Cardo began to look in deadly earnest.
"And what about the witnesses?"
"I have even thought of that. Are not your two friends, Wilson and
Chester, coming to Abersethin next week?"
"So they are," said Ellis, "to stay until I leave. The very thing.
They will be delighted with such a romantic little affair. But, Cardo,
how about my duty to your father, who has been a very kind friend to
me?"
"Well," said Cardo, "shall you be doing me an unkindness or the reverse
when you make Valmai my wife? Is she not all that a woman can be? has
she not every virtue and grace--"
"Oh, stop, my dear fellow! don't trouble to go through the inventory.
I'll allow you at once she is perfect in mind, body, and soul--and the
man to whom I marry her will owe me an eternal debt of gratitude!"