A shock-headed girl received us.
"Are we in Scotland ?" I asked.
"Mon! whar' else should ye be ?" The accent relieved me of all doubt.
"A private room--something to eat, ready in an hour's time--chaise afterward to the nearest place from which a coach runs to Edinburgh." Giving these orders rapidly, I followed the girl with my traveling companions into a stuffy little room.

As soon as our attendant had left us, I locked the door, put the key in my pocket, and took Alicia by the hand.
"Now, Mrs.Baggs," said I, "bear witness--" "You're not going to marry her now!" interposed Mrs.Baggs, indignantly.
"Bear witness, indeed! I won't bear witness till I've taken off my bonnet, and put my hair tidy!" "The ceremony won't take a minute," I answered; "and I'll give you your five-pound note and open the door the moment it's over.

Bear witness," I went on, drowning Mrs.Baggs's expostulations with the all-important marriage-words, "that I take this woman, Alicia Dulcifer for my lawful wedded wife." "In sickness and in health, in poverty and wealth," broke in Mrs.Baggs, determining to represent the clergyman as well as to be the witness.
"Alicia, dear," I said, interrupting in my turn, "repeat my words.

Say 'I take this man, Francis Softly, for my lawful wedded husband.'" She repeated the sentence, with her face very pale, with her dear hand cold and trembling in mine.
"For better for worse," continued the indomitable Mrs.Baggs.

"Little enough of the Better, I'm afraid, and Lord knows how much of the Worse." I stopped her again with the promised five-pound note, and opened the room door.