I agree with you, Bruce, that it makes it seem as if she regrets the marriage. But how could she know ahead of time that she will? The last verse seems poorly-cobbled, if you ask me.

This song puts me in mind of something I read in a history book about Europe in the middle ages. In the medieval period and later, the English upper classes were considered very strange for not having their daughters marry until they were old ladies - as much as 20 years old.

The man in the song, who tells the maiden to wait, seems to be carrying on that tradition.