They were not to stand outside, but to enter the church at once, to avoid any possible observation; but in spite of this prior arrangement Cardo wondered why no one appeared.
"Can Gwynne Ellis be late?
or those confounded fellows from Abersethin have forgotten all about it, probably?
It's the way of the world!" As he crossed the stepping-stones to the church he felt sure there would be no wedding, and that he would have to depart at midday still a bachelor, leaving Valmai to all sorts of dangers and trials! When he entered the porch, however, and pushed open the door of the church, in the cool green light inside, he found his three friends waiting for him.
"I wonder why she doesn't come," he said, turning back to look up the winding path through the wood; "it's quite time." "Yes, it is quite time," said Ellis.

"I will go and put on my surplice.

You three can sit in that ricketty front pew, or range yourselves at the altar rail, in fact--there she is coming down the path, you won't be kept long in suspense." And as the three young men stood waiting with their eyes fixed upon the doorway, Valmai appeared, looking very pale and nervous.

Gwynne Ellis had already walked up the church, and was standing inside the broken altar rails.

Valmai had never felt so lonely and deserted.