The woman in white, a novel . comer—andthis is an untidy vestry—and whos to help it ?—thats what I wantto know, My anxiety to examine the register did not dispose me to oflfermuch encouragement to the old mans talkativeness. I agreed withhim that nobody could help the untidiness of the vestry, and thensuggested that we should proceed to our business without moredelay. Ay, ay, the marriage register, to be sure, said the clerk, takinga little bunch of keys from his pocket. How far do you want tolook back, sir ? Marian had informed me of Sir Percivals age at the time whenwe had spoken together of
The woman in white, a novel . comer—andthis is an untidy vestry—and whos to help it ?—thats what I wantto know, My anxiety to examine the register did not dispose me to oflfermuch encouragement to the old mans talkativeness. I agreed withhim that nobody could help the untidiness of the vestry, and thensuggested that we should proceed to our business without moredelay. Ay, ay, the marriage register, to be sure, said the clerk, takinga little bunch of keys from his pocket. How far do you want tolook back, sir ? Marian had informed me of Sir Percivals age at the time whenwe had spoken together of his marriage engagement with had then described him as being forty-tive years old. Calcu-lating back from this, and making due allowance for the year thathad passed since I had gained my information, I found that he mustliave been l)orn in eigliteen hundred and four, and that I might safe-ly start on my search through the register from that date. I want to begin with the year eighteen hundred and four UIIICII ILVK IJID \OU i>\\, Mlt/ THE WOMAN IN WHITE. 441 Which Tvay after that, sir? asked the clerk. Forward to ourtime, or backward away from us V Backward from eighteen hundred and four. He opened the door of one of the presses—the press fro\:i the sideof which the surplices were hanging—and produced a large volumebound in greasy brown leatlier. I was struck by the insecurity ofthe place in which the register was kept. The door of the presswas warped and cracked with age; and the lock was of the small-est and commonest kind. I could have forced it easily with thewalking-stick I carried in my hand. Is that considered a sufficiently secure place for the register? Iinquired. Surely, a book of such importance as this ought to beprotected by a better lock, and kept carefully in an iron safe I Well, now, thats curious 1 said the clerk, shutting up the bookagain, just after he had opened it, and smacking his hand cheerfullyon the cover. Those were the v
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcollinswilkie18241889, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870
