... The night was dark, the wind blew, and the cold was
intense. We went on foot to the Carmelite church, because it is the
nearest: our good priest already stood before the altar. If the prince
royal had not supported me, I should have fallen many times during the
passage.
And how sad and melancholy was all within the church! On all sides the
silence and darkness of the grave! Two wax tapers burned upon the altar,
casting a dim and uncertain light, while the sound of our own steps was
the only sign of life heard within the solemn and sombre vault of the
temple. The ceremony did not last ten minutes, the curate made all
possible haste, and we fled the church as if we had committed some
crime. The prince royal returned with us: Prince Martin wished him to go
at once to the palace, but he would not leave me, and with great
difficulty did he at length part from me.
My dress was such as I wear every day. I had only dared to place one
little branch of rosemary in my hair.... While I was dressing, I thought
of Barbara's wedding, and could not refrain from weeping.... It was not
my mother who prepared the ducat, the morsel of bread, the salt, and the
sugar, which the betrothed should bear with her on her wedding day; and
so, at the last moment, I forgot them.
I am now alone in my chamber; not a single friendly eye will say to me:
'Be happy!' My parents have not blessed me.... Profound silence reigns
in every direction, all are yet asleep, and this light burns as if near
a corpse.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89