ten o’clock at
night
I started as if I had been frightened . `` Lord , sir , '' says I , `` what do you mean ? What , to marry in an inn , and at night too ? '' `` Madam , '' says the minister , `` if you will have it be in the church , you shall ; but I assure you your marriage will be as firm here as in the church ; we are not tied by the canons to marry nowhere but in the church ; and if you will have it in the church , it will be a public as a county fair ; and as for the time of day , it does not at all weigh in this case ; our princes are married in their chambers , and at eight or ten o'clock at night . '' I was a great while before I could be persuaded , and pretended not to be willing at all to be married but in the church . But it was all grimace ; so I seemed at last to be prevailed on , and my landlord and his wife and daughter were called up . My landlord was father and clerk and all together , and we were married , and very merry we were ; though I confess the self-reproaches which I had upon me before lay close to me , and extorted every now and then a deep sigh from me , which my bridegroom took notice of , and endeavoured to encourage me , thinking , poor man , that I had some little hesitations at the step I had taken so hastily .