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Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
page 103 of 187 (55%)
clergyman would have remonstrated with him, for although nothing formal
had been told to the neighbours, it had been understood since Abel's
departure that on his return he was to marry Sarah; but Eric would not
discuss the question.

'It is a painful subject, sir,' he said with a firmness which the
parson, who was a very young man, could not but be swayed by. 'Surely
there is nothing against Sarah or me. Why should there be any bones made
about the matter?' The parson said no more, and on the next day he read
out the banns for the first time amidst an audible buzz from the
congregation. Sarah was present, contrary to custom, and though she
blushed furiously enjoyed her triumph over the other girls whose banns
had not yet come. Before the week was over she began to make her wedding
dress. Eric used to come and look at her at work and the sight thrilled
through him. He used to say all sorts of pretty things to her at such
times, and there were to both delicious moments of love-making.

The banns were read a second time on the 29th, and Eric's hope grew more
and more fixed though there were to him moments of acute despair when he
realised that the cup of happiness might be dashed from his lips at any
moment, right up to the last. At such times he was full of
passion--desperate and remorseless--and he ground his teeth and clenched
his hands in a wild way as though some taint of the old Berserker fury
of his ancestors still lingered in his blood. On the Thursday of that
week he looked in on Sarah and found her, amid a flood of sunshine,
putting finishing touches to her white wedding gown. His own heart was
full of gaiety, and the sight of the woman who was so soon to be his own
so occupied, filled him with a joy unspeakable, and he felt faint with
languorous ecstasy. Bending over he kissed Sarah on the mouth, and then
whispered in her rosy ear--
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