Thepresentshadbeensetoutontheextensiontableinthesitting-room。Besidestheparlormelodeon，Trina’sparentshadgivenheranice-waterset，andacarvingknifeandforkwithelk-hornhandles。SelinahadpaintedaviewoftheGoldenGateuponapolishedsliceofredwoodthatansweredthepurposesofapaperweight。MarcusSchouler——afterimpressinguponTrinathathisgiftwastoHER，andnottoMcTeague——hadsentachatelainewatchofGermansilver；
　　UncleOelbermann’spresent，however，hadbeenawaitedwithagooddealofcuriosity。Whatwouldhesend？Hewasveryrich；inasenseTrinawashisprotege。Acoupleofdaysbeforethatuponwhichtheweddingwastotakeplace，twoboxesarrivedwithhiscard。TrinaandMcTeague，assistedbyOldGrannis，hadopenedthem。Thefirstwasaboxofallsortsoftoys。
　　“Butwhat——what——Idon’tmakeitout，“McTeaguehadexclaimed。“Whyshouldhesendustoys？Wehavenoneedoftoys。“Scarlettoherhair，Trinadroppedintoachairandlaughedtillshecriedbehindherhandkerchief。
　　“We’venouseoftoys，“mutteredMcTeague，lookingatherinperplexity。OldGrannissmileddiscreetly，raisingatremuloushandtohischin。
　　Theotherboxwasheavy，boundwithwithesattheedges，thelettersandstampsburntin。
　　“Ithink——Ireallythinkit’schampagne，“saidOldGrannisinawhisper。Soitwas。AfullcaseofMonopole。Whatawonder！Noneofthemhadseenthelikebefore。Ah，thisUncleOelbermann！That’swhatitwastoberich。Notoneoftheotherpresentsproducedsodeepanimpressionasthis。
　　AfterOldGrannisandthedentisthadgonethroughtherooms，givingalastlookaroundtoseethateverythingwasready，theyreturnedtoMcTeague’s“Parlors。“AtthedoorOldGrannisexcusedhimself。
　　Atfouro’clockMcTeaguebegantodress，shavinghimselffirstbeforethehand-glassthatwashungagainstthewoodworkofthebaywindow。Whileheshavedhesangwithstrangeinappropriateness：
　　“Noonetolove，nonetoCaress，Leftallaloneinthisworld’swilderness。“
　　Butashestoodbeforethemirror，intentuponhisshaving，therecamearollofwheelsoverthecobblesinfrontofthehouse。Herushedtothewindow。Trinahadarrivedwithherfatherandmother。Hesawhergetout，andassheglancedupwardathiswindow，theireyesmet。
　　Ah，thereshewas。Thereshewas，hislittlewoman，lookingupathim，heradorablelittlechinthrustupwardwiththatfamiliarmovementofinnocenceandconfidence。Thedentistsawagain，asifforthefirsttime，hersmall，palefacelookingoutfrombeneathherroyaltiaraofblackhair；
　　hesawagainherlong，narrowblueeyes；herlips，nose，andtinyears，paleandbloodless，andsuggestiveofanaemia，asifallthevitalitythatshouldhavelentthemcolorhadbeensuckedupintothestrandsandcoilsofthatwonderfulhair。
　　Astheireyesmettheywavedtheirhandsgaylytoeachother；thenMcTeagueheardTrinaandhermothercomeupthestairsandgointothebedroomofthephotographer’ssuite，whereTrinawastodress。
　　No，no；surelytherecouldbenolongeranyhesitation。Heknewthathelovedher。Whatwasthematterwithhim，thatheshouldhavedoubteditforaninstant？Thegreatdifficultywasthatshewastoogood，tooadorable，toosweet，toodelicateforhim，whowassohuge，soclumsy，sobrutal。
　　Therewasaknockatthedoor。ItwasOldGrannis。Hewasdressedinhisoneblacksuitofbroadcloth，muchwrinkled；
　　hishairwascarefullybrushedoverhisbaldforehead。
　　“MissTrinahascome，“heannounced，“andtheminister。Youhaveanhouryet。“
　　Thedentistfinisheddressing。Heworeasuitboughtfortheoccasion——areadymade“PrinceAlbert“coattooshortinthesleeves，striped“blue“trousers，andnewpatentleathershoes——veritableinstrumentsoftorture。AroundhiscollarwasawonderfulnecktiethatTrinahadgivenhim；itwasofsalmon-pinksatin；initscentreSelinahadpaintedaknotofblueforget-me-nots。
　　Atlength，afteraninterminableperiodofwaiting，Mr。
　　Sieppeappearedatthedoor。
　　“Areyoureatty？“heaskedinasepulchralwhisper。“Gome，den。“ItwaslikeKingCharlessummonedtoexecution。Mr。
　　Sieppeprecededthemintothehall，movingatafunerealpace。Hepaused。Suddenly，inthedirectionofthesitting-
　　room，camethestrainsoftheparlormelodeon。Mr。Sieppeflunghisarmintheair。
　　“Vowaarts！“hecried。
　　Heleftthematthedoorofthesitting-room，hehimselfgoingintothebedroomwhereTrinawaswaiting，enteringbythehalldoor。Hewasinatremendousstateofnervoustension，fearfullestsomethingshouldgowrong。Hehademployedtheperiodofwaitingingoingthroughhispartforthefiftiethtime，repeatingwhathehadtosayinalowvoice。Hehadevenmadechalkmarksonthemattingintheplaceswherehewastotakepositions。
　　ThedentistandOldGrannisenteredthesitting-room；theministerstoodbehindthelittletableinthebaywindow，holdingabook，onefingermarkingtheplace；hewasrigid，erect，impassive。Oneithersideofhim，inasemi-circle，stoodtheinvitedguests。Alittlepock-markedgentlemaninglasses，nodoubtthefamousUncleOelbermann；MissBaker，inherblackgrenadine，falsecurls，andcoralbrooch；
　　MarcusSchouler，hisarmsfolded，hisbrowsbent，grandandgloomy；Heisetheharness-maker，inyellowgloves，intentlystudyingthepatternofthematting；andOwgooste，inhisFauntleroy“costume，“stupefiedandalittlefrightened，rollinghiseyesfromfacetoface。Selinasatattheparlormelodeon，fingeringthekeys，herglancewanderingtothechenilleportieres。ShestoppedplayingasMcTeagueandOldGrannisenteredandtooktheirplaces。Aprofoundsilenceensued。UncleOelbermann’sshirtfrontcouldbeheardcreakingashebreathed。Themostsolemnexpressionpervadedeveryface。
　　Allatoncetheportiereswereshakenviolently。Itwasasignal。Selinapulledopenthestopsandswungintotheweddingmarch。
　　Trinaentered。Shewasdressedinwhitesilk，acrownoforangeblossomswasaroundherswarthyhair——dressedhighforthefirsttime——herveilreachedtothefloor。Herfacewaspink，butotherwiseshewascalm。Shelookedquietlyaroundtheroomasshecrossedit，untilherglancerestedonMcTeague，smilingathimthenveryprettilyandwithperfectself-possession。
　　Shewasonherfather’sarm。Thetwins，dressedexactlyalike，walkedinfront，eachcarryinganenormousbouquetofcutflowersina“lace-paper“holder。Mrs。Sieppefollowedintherear。Shewascrying；herhandkerchiefwasrolledintoawad。FromtimetotimeshelookedatthetrainofTrina’sdressthroughhertears。Mr。Sieppemarchedhisdaughtertotheexactmiddleofthefloor，wheeledatrightangles，andbroughtheruptotheminister。Hesteppedbackthreepaces，andstoodplantedupononeofhischalkmarks，hisfaceglisteningwithperspiration。
　　ThenTrinaandthedentistweremarried。Theguestsstoodinconstrainedattitudes，lookingfurtivelyoutofthecornersoftheireyes。Mr。Sieppenevermovedamuscle；
　　Mrs。Sieppecriedintoherhandkerchiefallthetime。AtthemelodeonSelinaplayed“CallMeThineOwn，“verysoftly，thetremulostoppulledout。Shelookedoverhershoulderfromtimetotime。Betweenthepausesofthemusiconecouldhearthelowtonesoftheminister，theresponsesoftheparticipants，andthesuppressedsoundsofMrs。Sieppe’sweeping。Outsidethenoisesofthestreetrosetothewindowsinmuffledundertones，acablecarrumbledpast，anewsboywentbychantingtheeveningpapers；fromsomewhereinthebuildingitselfcameapersistentnoiseofsawing。
　　TrinaandMcTeagueknelt。Thedentist’skneesthuddedonthefloorandhepresentedtoviewthesolesofhisshoes，painfullynewandunworn，theleatherstillyellow，thebrassnailheadsstillglittering。Trinasankathissideverygracefully，settingherdressandtrainwithalittlegestureofherfreehand。Thecompanybowedtheirheads，Mr。Sieppeshuttinghiseyestight。ButMrs。SieppetookadvantageofthemomenttostopcryingandmakefurtivegesturestowardsOwgooste，signinghimtopulldownhiscoat。ButOwgoostegavenoheed；hiseyeswerestartingfromtheirsockets，hischinhaddroppeduponhislacecollar，andhisheadturnedvaguelyfromsidetosidewithacontinuedandmaniacalmotion。
　　Allatoncetheceremonywasoverbeforeanyoneexpectedit。Theguestskepttheirpositionsforamoment，eyeingoneanother，eachfearingtomakethefirstmove，notquitecertainastowhetherornoteverythingwerefinished。Butthecouplefacedtheroom，Trinathrowingbackherveil。
　　She——perhapsMcTeagueaswell——feltthattherewasacertaininadequatenessabouttheceremony。Wasthatalltherewastoit？Didjustthosefewmutteredphrasesmakethemmanandwife？Ithadbeenoverinafewmoments，butithadboundthemforlife。Hadnotsomethingbeenleftout？Wasnotthewholeaffaircursory，superficial？Itwasdisappointing。
　　ButTrinahadnotimetodwelluponthis。MarcusSchouler，inthemannerofamanoftheworld，whoknewhowtoactineverysituation，steppedforwardand，evenbeforeMr。orMrs。Sieppe，tookTrina’shand。
　　“LetmebethefirsttocongratulateMrs。McTeague，“hesaid，feelingverynobleandheroic。Thestrainofthepreviousmomentswasrelaxedimmediately，theguestscrowdedaroundthepair，shakinghands——ababeloftalkarose。
　　“Owgooste，WILLyoupulldownyourgoat，den？“
　　“Well，mydear，nowyou’remarriedandhappy。WhenIfirstsawyoutwotogether，Isaid，’Whatapair！’We’retobeneighborsnow；youmustcomeupandseemeveryoftenandwe’llhaveteatogether。“
　　“Didyouhearthatsawinggoingonallthetime？Ideclareitregularlygotonmynerves。“
　　Trinakissedherfatherandmother，cryingalittleherselfasshesawthetearsinMrs。Sieppe’seyes。
　　Marcuscameforwardasecondtime，and，withanairofgreatgravity，kissedhiscousinupontheforehead。HeisewasintroducedtoTrinaandUncleOelbermanntothedentist。
　　Forupwardsofhalfanhourtheguestsstoodaboutingroups，fillingthelittlesitting-roomwithagreatchatteroftalk。Thenitwastimetomakereadyforsupper。
　　Thiswasatremendoustask，inwhichnearlyalltheguestswereobligedtoassist。Thesitting-roomwastransformedintoadining-room。Thepresentswereremovedfromtheextensiontableandthetabledrawnouttoitsfulllength。
　　Theclothwaslaid，thechairs——rentedfromthedancingacademyhardby——drawnup，thedishessetout，andthetwobouquetsofcutflowerstakenfromthetwinsundertheirshrillprotests，and“arranged“invasesateitherendofthetable。
　　Therewasagreatcomingandgoingbetweenthekitchenandthesitting-room。Trina，whowasallowedtodonothing，satinthebaywindowandfretted，callingtohermotherfromtimetotime：
　　“Thenapkinsareintheright-handdrawerofthepantry。“
　　“Yes，yes，Igotum。Wheredoyougeepderzoupblates？“
　　“Thesoupplatesareherealready。“
　　“Say，CousinTrina，isthereacorkscrew？Whatishomewithoutacorkscrew？“
　　“Inthekitchen-tabledrawer，intheleft-handcorner。“
　　“Arethesetheforksyouwanttouse，Mrs。McTeague？“
　　“No，no，there’ssomesilverforks。Mammaknowswhere。“