She clasped her hands over her face, and wept aloud. He
heard her piteous sobs, and was still silent, and did not seek to
comfort her.
Onward went the flying wheels. The horses had been twice changed in
order to reach the goal more quickly. Louise wept without ceasing.
Exhausted by terror, she thought her death was near. Twice tortured
by this ominous silence, she had dared to say a few low, sobbing
words to her companion, but he made no reply.
At last the carriage stopped. "We have arrived," he whispered to
Louise, sprang from the carriage, and lifted her out.
"Where are we?" she said, convinced that she had been brought to a
prison, or some secret place of banishment.
"We are in Oranienburg, and there is the church where the preacher
awaits us." He took her arm hastily, and led her into the church.
The door was opened, and as Louise stepped upon the threshold, she
felt her eyes blinded by the flood of light upon the altar. She saw
the priest with his open book, and heard the solemn sounds of the
organ. The young man led Louise forward, but not to the altar; he
entered first into the sacristy. There also wax lights were burning,
and on the table lay a myrtle wreath and a lace veil.
"This is your bridal wreath and veil," said the young man, who still
kept the hood of his cloak drawn tightly over his face.
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