How can we know that such wedlock would be lawful?
Methinks my mother would break her heart did she think the knot had been thus loosely tied." "Nay, but, Kate, thou scarce takest my meaning as yet.

This pledge given betwixt us before yon priest would be to us but the betrothal troth plight.

I doubt myself whether such wedlock would be lawful; nor would I dare to call thee my wife did none but he tie the knot.
But listen, sweet coz: if we go before him and thus plight our troth and join our hands together, none will dare to bid us wed another.

It will be too solemn a pledge to be lightly broken.

Men think gravely of such matters as solemn betrothal, and in days to come if they should urge upon thee or me to wed with another, we have but to tell of what was done this day, and they will cease to strive to come between us more.
"O sweetest mistress, fairest Kate, let us not part today without some pledge of mutual faith and constancy! Let me hold this little hand and place my token on thy finger; then be the time of waiting never so long, I shall know that at last I may call thee mine before all the world!" Kate was quivering, blushing, trembling with excitement, though not with fear; for she loved Culverhouse too completely to feel aught but the most perfect confidence in him and his honour and faith.
"If only I could be sure it was not wrong!" she faltered.
"Wrong to plight thy hand, when thy heart is long since given ?" he asked, with tender playfulness.