`` Friend Lawless , sit ye still , '' he said . `` An ye have eyes , look yonder at the corner by the chancel arch ; see ye not that , even upon the motion of your rising , yon armed men are up and ready to intercept you ? Yield ye , friend . Ye were bold aboard ship , when ye thought to die a sea-death ; be bold again , now that y ' are to die presently upon the gallows . '' `` Master Dick , '' gasped Lawless , `` the thing hath come upon me somewhat of the suddenest . 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 XXXXX '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 .
Dick Duckworth Lawless Shoreby concourse merrier morning sea-death suddenest wedding-train