support oneanother through times of trouble?Wewill.Athird loop. The whole crowd saying it together: And so you arebound.Billyand Jane, will you promise one another fidelity?Wewill. Henry saw Jane murmur Ilove youto Billy with tears in her eyes and felt that he might tear uphimself.Afourth loop. A roar of voices. And so you are bound.Billyand Jane, will you respect one anothers commitment to masters andservice?Wewill.Afifth loop, this one apparently final, as the room erupted incheering and applause.Timothyraised his voice to be heard above the din. Billy and Jane, asyour hands are bound together, so your lives are joined. Be dedicatedto one another as you are to your masters.Thissurprised Henry, the inclusion of masters in a ceremony meant forslaves, but perhaps there were masters who would be suspicious of amarriage that put slaves happiness before duty.Withthe blessings of your masters, your community recognizes your bond.You are now quitewelcome to kiss! Timothy began to clap, and now everyone did so,Henry included, while the bride and groom shared a very passionatekiss. The blonde stepped forward with champagne flutes for themarried couple and they drank while their guests cheered.Henrydrank the last of his punch and looked around the room. People werepushing to get out of the room, heading toward the food, and peoplerushed forward, wanting to congratulate the newlyweds. The blondehelped Billy and Jane to extricate their hands from the loopedribbons, and then tied the entire thing together neatly so that theribbon retained the looped shape. She put it on top of the piano andMartin got up from his chair and spoke a few words to her. She noddedand spoke to Billy and Jane and they inched out toward the middle ofthe room.Martinlifted his violin to his shoulder and the band began to play a livelywaltz, People hurried to clear the floor for Billy and Jane, whobegan to dance. It was obvious that they were both good dancers, andthat they had danced together many times before. He recalled Billywhirling Jane around the side yard on New Years Eve and wonderedhow long they had known one another. Martin had said shed beenwith the Slatterys for fifteen years, so she and Billy had likelyknown each other half their lives; they might have even beensweethearts all that time.Othercouples joined in the dance. Henry wished he could dance, too, butknew it would make the other guests uncomfortable, at the very least,and thought it better not to bother any of the female slaves withselfish requests theyd feel unable to refuse.Mr.Blackwell, Sir? A familiar voice rose above the hubbub.Henryturned and came face-to-face with Tom, Arthur right behind him. WasHenry imagining things, or did they smell faintly of sex?Hello,Tom, Arthur. Henry nodded at each of them.Arthurblushed when Henry looked at him. No, they definitelysmelled of sex. Henry got a flash of what they might have looked liketogether, Arthurs brown skin against Toms white, and heblushed, too.Youreout of punch, Sir. Would you like me to get you some? Tom was sofriendly, so solicitous.Flustered,Henry said, Oh, no, you neednt wait on me, Tom.Imhappy to do it, Sir. You should have someone taking care of you whileMartins busy.