They also charged me on no account whatever to mention them to any one before my wedding evening.

At the time of my coming, therefore, I took them off in secret, and have kept them concealed to the present hour." The priest now cut short all further questioning and wondering, while he lighted the consecrated tapers, placed them on a table, and ordered the bridal pair to stand opposite to him.

He then pronounced the few solemn words of the ceremony, and made them one.

The elder couple gave the younger their blessing; and the bride, gently trembling and thoughtful, leaned upon the knight.
The priest then spoke out: "You are strange people, after all; for why did you tell me that you were the only inhabitants of the island?
So far is this from being true, I have seen, the whole time I was performing the ceremony, a tall, stately man, in a white mantle, standing opposite to me, looking in at the window.

He must be still waiting before the door, if peradventure you would invite him to come in." "God forbid!" cried the old lady, shrinking back; the fisherman shook his head, without opening his lips; and Huldbrand sprang to the window.
It seemed to him that he could still discern a white streak, which soon disappeared in the gloom.