The verger straightened himself to his full height and regarded him pityingly.

'In the vicarage, I dare say!

'Where's the vicarage?' asked William, trying again.

'You're an American gentleman, aren't you, sir.'

Tes,'said William, becoming impatient.

'T'he vicarage will be next door to the church, won't it?' said the verger.

'I suppose it will,' said William. 'Can you stay here for the next ten minutes?'

'Why should I want to do that, sirT William extracted a large, white, five - pound note from his inside pocket and unfolded it. 'Make it fifteen minutes to be on the safe side, please!

The verger studied the five pounds carefully and said: 'Americans. Yes, sir.'

I William left the man with his five - pound note and hurried Kate out of the church. As they passed the main notice board in the porch, he read: 'The Vicar of this Parish is The Reverend Simon Tukesbury, M.A. (Cantab),'

and next to that pronouncement, hanging by one nail, was an appeal notice concerning a new roof for the church. Every penny towards the necessary five hundred pounds will help, declared the notice, not very boldly.

William hastened up the path to the vicarage with Kate a few yards behind, and a smiling, pink - cheeked, plump lady answered his sharp knock on the door.

'Mrs. Tukesbury?' enquired William.

Tes.' She smiled.

'May I speak to your husbandF 'He's having his tea at the moment. Would it be possible for you to come back a little laterT 'I'm afraid it's rather urgent,' William insisted.

Kate had caught up with him but said nothing.

'Well, in that case I suppose you'd better come in.'

The vicarage was early sixteenth century and the small stone front room was warmed by a welcoming log fire. The vicar, a tall spare man who was eating wafer - thin cucumber sandwiches, rose to greet them.

'Good afternoon, Mr .... F 'Kane, sir, William Kane!

'What can I do for you, Mr. Kane?'

'Kate and I,' said William, 'want to get married.'

'Oh, how nice,'said Mrs. Tukesbury.

'Yes indeed,' said the vicar. 'Are you a member of this parish? I don't seem to remember. . .'

No, sir, I'm an American. I worship at St. Paul's in Boston.'

'Massachusetts, I presume, not Lincolnshire,' said the Reverend Tukesbury.

'Yes,' said William, forgetting for a moment that there was a Boston in England.

'Splendid,' said the vicar, his hands raised as if he were about to give a blessing. 'And what date did you have in mind for this union of souls?'

'Now, sir.'

'Now, sir?' said the startled vicar. 'I am not aware of the traditions in the United States that surround the solemn, holy and binding institution of marriage, Mr. Kane, though one reads of some very strange incidents involving some of your compatriots from California. I do, however, consider it nothing less than my duty to inform you that those customs have not yet become acceptable in Henley - on - Thames. In England, sir, you must reside for a full calendar month in any parish before you ran be married and the banns must be posted on three separate occasions, unless there are very special and extenuating circumstances. Even did such circumstances exist, I would have to seek the bishop's dispensation, and I couldn't do that in under three days,' Mr. Tukesbury added, his hands now firmly at his side.

Kate spoke for the first time. 'How much do you still need for the church's new roof ?'

'Ah, the roof. Now there is a sad story, but I won't embark upon its history at this moment, early eleventh century you know...'

'How much do you needT asked William, tightening his grasp on Kate's hand.

'We are hoping to r - aise five hundred pounds. We've done commendably well so far; we've reached twenty - seven pounds four shillings and four pence in only seven weeks!

'No, no dear,' said Mrs. Tukesbury. Tou haven't counted the one pound eleven shillings and two pence I made from my "Bring and Buy" sale last week.'

'Indeed I haven't, my dear. How inconsiderate of me to overlook your personal contribution. That will make altogether . . .' began the Reverend Tukesbury as he tried to add the figures in his head, raising his eyes towards heaven for inspiration.

William took his wallet from his inside pocket, wrote out a cheque for five hundred pounds and silently proffered it to the Reverend Tukesbury.

'I ... 911, 1 see there are special circumstances, Mr. Kane,' said the surprised vicar. The tone changed. 'Has either of you ever been married before?'