There was no bell-ringing, and there were no bridesmaids.

The bride drove up quietly with her father, and there was a subdued note even in the murmur of recognition which ran along the villagers as they stood in groups near the church porch.

There was an absence of the usual hilarity which struck me.

One might almost have said that there was a quite ominous silence.
Seating myself in a corner of the transept where I could see all and be little seen, I with the rest awaited the coming of the overdue bridegroom.

Meanwhile the usual buzzing and bobbing of heads went on amongst the usual little group near the foot of the altar.