She was standing in the middle of the floor, with one arm crooked as if making believe that another's arm rested on it, and over her head was a little muslin window-blind, representing a bride's veil.

Thus she was two persons, but she was also a third, who addressed them in clerical tones.
"Ivie McLean," she said as solemnly as tho' she were the Rev.Mr.
Dishart, "do you take this woman to be thy lawful wedded wife ?" With almost indecent haste she answered herself, "I do." "Alison Cray," she said next, "do you take this man to be thy lawful wedded husband ?" "I do." Just then the door shut softly; and Gavinia ran to see who had been listening, with the result that she hid herself in the coal-cellar.
While she was there, Miss Ailie and Mr.McLean were sitting in the blue-and-white room very self-conscious, and Miss Ailie was speaking confusedly of anything and everything, saying more in five minutes than had served for the previous hour, and always as she slackened she read an intention in his face that started her tongue upon another journey.
But, "Timid Ailie," he said at last, "do you think you can talk me down ?" and then she gave him a look of reproach that turned treacherously into one of appeal, but he had the hardihood to continue; "Ailie, do you need to be told what I want to say ?" Miss Ailie stood quite still now, a stiff, thick figure, with a soft, plain face and nervous hands.

"Before you speak," she said, nervously, "I have something to tell you that--perhaps then you will not say it.
"I have always led you to believe," she began, trembling, "that I am forty-nine.

I am fifty-one." He would have spoken, but the look of appeal came back to her face, asking him to make it easier for her by saying nothing.

She took a pair of spectacles from her pocket, and he divined what this meant before she spoke.