the hour
of five
I am not sorry for myself . Even if I never loved again and never was loved I should still have had enough for a life time . It is more than many women have , more than I deserve . '' The bride white day wore on to twilight and as the clock struck the hour of five Ruth Farringdon came down the broad oak staircase clad in the shining splendor of the bridal gown she had `` dreamed , '' wearing her grandmother 's pearls and the lace veil which Larry 's lovely mother had worn as Ned Holiday 's bride long and long ago . At the foot of the stairs Larry waited and took her hand . Eric and Hester flanking the living room door pushed aside the curtains for the two who still hand in hand walked past the children into the room where the others were assembled . Gravely and brimming with importance the guard of honor followed , the latter bearing the bride 's bouquet , the former squeezing the wedding ring in his small fist .