But give me a moment till I fetch my breath again ; and , by the mass , I will be as stout-hearted as yourself . '' `` Here is my bold fellow ! '' returned Dick . `` And yet , Lawless , it goes hard against the grain with me to die ; but where whining mendeth nothing , wherefore whine ? '' `` Nay , that indeed ! '' chimed Lawless . `` And a fig for death , at worst ! It has to be done , my master , soon or late . And hanging in a good quarrel is an easy death , they say , though I could never hear of any that came back to say so . '' And so saying , the stout old rascal leaned back in his stall , folded his arms , and began to look about him with the greatest air of insolence and unconcern . `` And for the matter of that , '' Dick added , `` it is yet our best chance to keep quiet . We wot not yet what Duckworth purposes ; and when all is said , and if the worst befall , we may yet clear our feet of it . '' Now that they ceased talking , they were aware of a very distant and thin strain of mirthful music which steadily drew nearer , louder , and merrier . The bells in the tower began to break forth into a doubling peal , and a greater and greater concourse of people to crowd into the church , shuffling the snow from off their feet , and clapping and blowing in their hands . The western door was flung wide open , showing a glimpse of sunlit , snowy street , and admitting in a great gust the shrewd air of the morning ; and in short , it became plain by every sign that Lord Shoreby desired to be married very early in the day , and that the wedding-train was drawing near . Some of Lord Shoreby 's men now cleared a passage down the middle aisle , forcing the people back with lance-stocks ; and just then , outside the portal , the secular musicians could be descried drawing near over the frozen snow , the fifers and trumpeters scarlet in the face with lusty blowing , the drummers and the cymbalists beating as for a wager . These , as they drew near the door of the sacred building , filed off on either side , and , marking time to their own vigorous music , stood stamping in the snow . As they thus opened their ranks , the leaders of this noble bridal train appeared behind and between them ; and such was the variety and gaiety of their attire , such the display of silks and velvet , fur and satin , embroidery and lace , that the procession showed forth upon the snow like a flower-bed in a path or a painted window in a wall . First came the bride , a sorry sight , as pale as winter , clinging to Sir Daniel 's arm , and attended , as brides-maid , by the short young lady who had befriended Dick the night before . Close behind , in the most radiant toilet , followed the bridegroom , halting on a gouty foot ; and as he passed the threshold of the sacred building and doffed his hat , his bald head was seen to be rosy with emotion .
And now came the hour of Ellis XXXXX .
Daniel Dick Duckworth First Shoreby brides-maid fifers lance-stocks mendeth wedding-train