But Nino called after me, as he moved the bench from the door.
"Messer Cornelio, will you not come with us?
Surely you need a walk very much, and we can ill spare your company.

My lady, let me offer you my arm." In this manner we left the inn, a wedding procession which could not have been much smaller, and the singing of an old woman, who sat with her distaff in front of her house, was the wedding march.

Nino seemed in no great haste, I thought, and I let them walk as they would, while I kept soberly in the middle of the road, a little way behind.
It was not far that we had to go, however, and soon we came to a large brick house, with an uncommonly small door, over which hung a wooden shield with the arms of Italy brightly painted in green and red and white.
Nino and Hedwig entered arm in arm, and I slunk guiltily in after them.

Hedwig had drawn her veil, which was the only head-dress she had, close about her face.
In a quarter of an hour the little ceremony was over, and the registers were signed by us all.

Nino also got a stamped certificate, which he put very carefully in his pocket-book.