CHAPTER XXVI 365
And now I can recall the picture of the grey old house of God rising calm before me , of a rook wheeling round the steeple , of a ruddy morning sky beyond . I remember something , too , of the green grave-mounds ; and I have not forgotten , either , two figures of strangers straying amongst the low hillocks and reading the mementoes graven on the few mossy head-stones . I noticed them , because , as they saw us , they passed round to the back of the church ; and I doubted not they were going to enter by the side-aisle door and witness the ceremony . By Mr . Rochester they were not observed ; he was earnestly looking at my face from which the blood had , I daresay , momentarily fled : for I felt my forehead dewy , and my cheeks and lips cold . When I rallied , which I soon did , he walked gently with me up the path to the porch .
We entered the quiet and humble temple ; the priest waited in his white surplice at the lowly altar , the clerk beside him . All was still : two shadows only moved in a remote corner . My conjecture had been correct : the strangers had slipped in before us , and they now stood by the vault of the Rochesters , their backs towards us , viewing through the rails the old time-stained marble tomb , where a kneeling angel guarded the remains of Damer de Rochester , slain at Marston Moor in the time of the civil wars , and of Elizabeth , his wife .
Our place was taken at the communion rails . Hearing a cautious step behind me , I glanced over my shoulder : one of the strangers -- a gentleman , evidently -- was advancing up the chancel . The service began . The explanation of the intent of matrimony was gone through ; and then the clergyman came a step further forward , and , bending slightly towards Mr . Rochester , went on .
" I require and charge you both ( as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment , when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed ), that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not lawfully be joined together in matrimony , ye do now confess it ; for be ye well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God ' s Word doth allow , are not joined together by God , neither is their matrimony lawful ."