vehicles。 Everybody crowded in the parlour in excitement。 Anna
was still upstairs。 Her father kept taking a nip of brandy。 He
was handsome in his black coat and grey trousers。 His voice was
hearty but troubled。 His wife came down in dark grey silk with
lace； and a touch of peacockblue in her bon。 Her little body
was very sure and definite。 Brangwen was thankful she was there；
to sustain him among all these people。
The carriages！ The Nottingham Mrs。 Brangwen； in silk brocade；
stands in the doorway saying who must go with whom。 There is a
great bustle。 The front door is opened； and the wedding guests
are walking down the garden path； whilst those still waiting
peer through the window； and the little crowd at the gate gorps
and stretches。 How funny such dressedup people look in the
winter sunshine！
They are goneanother lot！ There begins to be more
room。 Anna es down blushing and very shy； to be viewed in her
white silk and her veil。 Her motherinlaw surveys her
objectively； twitches the white train； arranges the folds of the
veil and asserts herself。
Loud exclamations from the window that the bridegroom's
carriage has just passed。
〃Where's your hat； father； and your gloves？〃 cries the bride；
stamping her white slipper； her eyes flashing through her veil。
He hunts roundhis hair is ruffled。 Everybody has gone but
the bride and her father。 He is readyhis face very red
and daunted。 Tilly dithers in the little porch； waiting to open
the door。 A waiting woman walks round Anna； who asks：
〃Am I all right？〃
She is ready。 She bridles herself and looks queenly。 She
waves her hand sharply to her father：
〃e here！〃
He goes。 She puts her hand very lightly on his arm； and
holding her bouquet like a shower； stepping； oh； very
graciously； just a little impatient with her father for being so
red in the face； she sweeps slowly past the fluttering Tilly；
and down the path。 There are hoarse shouts at the gate； and all
her floating foamy whiteness passes slowly into the cab。
Her father notices her slim ankle and foot as she steps up： a
child's foot。 His heart is hard with tenderness。 But she is in
ecstasies with herself for making such a lovely spectacle。 All
the way she sat flamboyant with bliss because it was all so
lovely。 She looked down solicitously at her bouquet： white roses
and liliesofthevalley and tuberoses and maidenhair
fernvery rich and cascadelike。
Her father sat bewildered with all this strangeness； his
heart was so full it felt hard； and he couldn't think of
anything。
The church was decorated for Christmas； dark with evergreens；
cold and snowy with white flowers。 He went vaguely down to the
altar。 How long was it since he had gone to be married himself？
He was not sure whether he was going to be married now； or what
he had e for。 He had a troubled notion that he had to do
something or other。 He saw his wife's bon； and wondered why
she wasn't there with him。
They stood before the altar。 He was staring up at the east
window； that glowed intensely； a sort of blue purple： it was
deep blue glowing； and some crimson； and little yellow flowers
held fast in veins of shadow； in a heavy web of darkness。 How it
burned alive in radiance among its black web。
〃Who giveth this woman to be married to this man？〃 He felt
somebody touch him。 He started。 The words still reechoed in his
memory； but were drawing off。
〃Me；〃 he said hastily。
Ann bent her head and smiled in her veil。 How absurd he
was。
Brangwen was staring away at the burning blue window at the
back of the altar； and wondering vaguely； with pain； if he ever
should get old； if he ever should feel arrived and established。
He was here at Anna's wedding。 Well； what right had he to feel
responsible； like a father？ He was still as unsure and unfixed
as when he had married himself。 His wife and he！ With a pang of
anguish he realized what uncertainties they both were。 He was a
man of fortyfive。 Fortyfive！ In five more years fifty。 Then
sixtythen seventythen it was finished。 My
Godand one still was so unestablished！
How did one grow oldhow could one bee confident？ He
wished he felt older。 Why； what difference was there； as far as
he felt matured or pleted； between him now and him at his own
wedding？ He might be getting married over againhe and his
wife。 He felt himself tiny； a little； upright figure on a plain
circled round with the immense； roaring sky： he and his wife；
two little； upright figures walking across this plain； whilst
the heavens shimmered and roared about them。 When did one e
to an end？ In which direction was it finished？ There was no end；
no finish； only this roaring vast space。 Did one never get old；
never die？ That was the clue。 He exulted strangely； with
torture。 He would go on with his wife； he and she like two
children camping in the plains。 What was sure but the endless
sky？ But that was so sure； so boundless。
Still the royal blue colour burned and blazed and sported
itself in the web of darkness before him； unwearyingly rich and
splendid。 How rich and splendid his own life was； red and
burning and blazing and sporting itself in the dark meshes of
his body： and his wife； how she glowed and burned dark within
her meshes！ Always it was so unfinished and unformed！
There was a loud noise of the an。 The whole party was
trooping to the vestry。 There was a blotted； scrawled
bookand that young girl putting back her veil in her
vanity； and laying her hand with the weddingring
selfconsciously conspicuous； and signing her name proudly
because of the vain spectacle she made：
〃Anna Theresa Lensky。〃
〃Anna Theresa Lensky〃what a vain； independent minx she
was！ The bridegroom； slender in his black swallowtail and grey
trousers； solemn as a young solemn cat； was writing
seriously：
〃William Brangwen。〃
That looked more like it。
〃e and sign； father；〃 cried the imperious young hussy。
〃Thomas Brangwenclumsyfist；〃 he said to himself as he
signed。
Then his brother； a big； sallow fellow with black
sidewhiskers wrote：
〃Alfred Brangwen。〃
〃How many more Brangwens？〃 said Tom Brangwen； ashamed of the
toofrequent recurrence of his family name。
When they were out again in the sunshine； and he saw the
frost hoary and blue among the long grass under the tombstones；
the hollyberries overhead twinkling scarlet as the bells rang；
the yew trees hanging their black； motionless； ragged boughs；
everything seemed like a vision。
The marriage party went across the graveyard to the wall；
mounted it by the little steps； and descended。 Oh； a vain white
peacock of a bride perching herself on the top of the wall and
giving her hand to the bridegroom on the other side； to be
helped down！ The vanity of her white； slim； daintilystepping
feet； and her arched neck。 And the regal impudence with which
she seemed to dismiss them all； the others； parents and wedding
guests； as she went with her young husband。
In the cottage big fires were burning； there were dozens of
glasses on the table； and holly and mistletoe hanging up。 The
wedding party crowded in； and Tom Brangwen； being roisterous；
poured out drinks。 Everybody must drink。 The bells were ringing
away against the windows。
〃Lift your glasses up；〃 shouted Tom Brangwen from the
parlour； 〃lift your glasses up； an' drink to the hearth an'
homehearth an' home； an' may they enjoy it。〃
〃Night an' day； an' may they enjoy it；〃 shouted Frank
Brangwen； in addition。
〃Hammer an' tongs； and may they enjoy it；〃 shouted Alfred
Brangwen； the saturnine。
〃Fill your glasses up； an' let's have it all over again；〃
shouted Tom Brangwen。
〃Hearth an' home； an' may ye enjoy it。〃
There was a ragged shout of the pany in response。
〃Bed an' blessin'； an' may ye enjoy it；〃 shouted Frank
Brangwen。
There was a swelling chorus in answer。
〃in' and goin'； an' may ye enjoy it；〃 shouted the
saturnine Alfred Brangwen； and the men roared by now boldly； and
the women said； 〃Just hark； now！〃
There was a touch of scandal in the air。
Then the party rolled off in the carriages； full speed back
to the Marsh； to a large meal of the hightea order； which
lasted for an hour and a half。 The bride and bridegroom sat at
the head of the table； very prim and shining both of them；
wordless； whilst the pany raged down the table。
The Brangwen men had brandy in their tea； and were being
unmanageable。 The saturnine Alfred had glittering； unseeing
eyes； and a strange； fierce way of laughing that showed his
teeth。 His wife glowered at him and jerked her head at him like
a snake。 He was oblivious。 Frank Brangwen； the butcher； flushed
and florid and handsome； roared echoes to his two brothers。 Tom
Brangwen； in his solid fashion； was letting himself go at
last。
These three brothers dominated the whole pany。 Tom
Brangwen wanted to make a speech。 For the first time in his
life； he must spread himself wordily。
〃Marriage；〃 he began； his eyes twinkling and yet quite
profound； for he was deeply serious and hugely amused at the
same time； 〃Marriage；〃 he said； speaking in the slow；
fullmouthed way of the Brangwens； 〃is what we're made
for〃
〃Let him talk；〃 said Alfred Brangwen； slowly and inscrutably；
〃let him talk。〃 Mrs。 Alfred darted indignant eyes at her
husband。
〃A man；〃 continued Tom Brangwen； 〃enjoys being a man： for
what purpose was he made a man； if not to enjoy it？〃
〃That a true word；〃 said Frank； floridly。
〃And likewise；〃 continued Tom Brangwen； 〃a woman enjoys being
a woman： at least we surmise she does〃
〃Oh； don't you bother〃 called a farmer's
wife。
〃You may back your life they'd be summisin'。〃 said Frank's
wife。
〃Now；〃 continued Tom Brangwen； 〃for a man to be a man； it
takes a woman〃
〃It does that；〃 said a woman grimly。
〃And for a woman to be a woman； it takes a man〃
continued Tom Brangwen。
〃All speak up； men；〃 chimed in a feminine voice。
〃Therefore we have marriage；〃 continued Tom Brangwen。
〃Hold； hold；〃 said Alfred Brangwen。 〃Don't run us off our
legs。〃
And in dead silence the glasses were filled。 The bride and
bridegroom； two children； sat with intent； shining faces at the
head of the table； abstracted。
〃There's no marriage in heaven；〃 went on Tom Brangwen； 〃but
on earth there is marriage。〃
〃That's the difference between 'em；〃 said Alfred Brangwen；
mocking。
〃Alfred；〃 said Tom Brangwen； 〃keep your remarks till
afterwards； and then we'll thank you for them。There's
very little else； on earth； but marriage。 You can talk about
making money； or saving souls。 You can save your own soul seven
times over； and you may have a mint of money； but your soul goes
gnawin'； gnawin'； gnawin'； and it says there's something it must
have。 In heaven there is no marriage。 But on earth there is
marriage； else heaven drops out； and there's no bottom to
it。〃
〃Just hark you now；〃 said Frank's wife。
〃Go on； Thomas；〃 said Alfred sardonically。
〃If we've got to be Angels；〃 went on Tom Brangwen；
haranguing the pany at large； 〃and if there is no such thing
as a man nor a woman amongst them； then it seems to me as a
married couple makes one Angel。〃
〃It's the brandy；〃 said Alfred Brangwen wearily。
〃For；〃 said Tom Brangwen； and the pany was listening to