CHAPTER VIII. THE “COMING OUT”

bypostponingmyreturnsolong.” “Oh,nevermindyourfriends!Tellthemwewon’tletyougo.” “But,tosaythetruth,itwouldbeadisappointmenttomyself:Ilongtoseethemasmuchastheytoseeme—perhapsmore.” “Well,butitissuchashorttime.” “Nearlyafortnightbymycomputationand,besides,IcannotbearthethoughtsofaChristmasspentfromhome:and,moreover,mysisterisgoingtobemarried.” “Isshe—when?” “NottillnextmonthbutIwanttobetheretoassistherinmakingpreparations,andtomakethebestofhercompanywhilewehaveher.” “Whydidn’tyoutellmebefore?” “I’veonlygotthenewsinthisletter,whichyoustigmatizeasdullandstupid,andwon’tletmeread.” “Towhomisshetobemarried?” “ToMr.Richardson,thevicarofaneighbouringparish.” “Isherich?” “Noonlycomfortable.” “Ishehandsome?” “Noonlydecent.” “Young?” “Noonlymiddling.” “Oh,mercy!whatawretch!Whatsortofahouseisit?” “Aquietlittlevicarage,withanivy-cladporch,anold-fashionedgarden,and—” “Oh,stop!—you’llmakemesick.Howcanshebearit?” “Iexpectshe’llnotonlybeabletobearit,buttobeveryhappy.YoudidnotaskmeifMr.Richardsonwereagood,wise,oramiablemanIcouldhaveansweredYes,toallthesequestions—atleastsoMarythinks,andIhopeshewillnotfindherselfmistaken.” “But—miserablecreature!howcanshethinkofspendingherlifethere,coopedupwiththatnastyoldmanandnohopeofchange?” “Heisnotold:he’sonlysixorsevenandthirtyandsheherselfistwenty-eight,andassoberasifshewerefifty.” “Oh!that’sbetterthen—they’rewellmatchedbutdotheycallhimthe‘worthyvicar’?” “Idon’tknowbutiftheydo,Ibelievehemeritstheepithet.” “Mercy,howshocking!andwillshewearawhiteapronandmakepiesandpuddings?” “Idon’tknowaboutthewhiteapron,butIdaresayshewillmakepiesandpuddingsnowandthenbutthatwillbenogreathardship,asshehasdoneitbefore.” “Andwillshegoaboutinaplainshawl,andalargestrawbonnet,carryingtractsandbonesouptoherhusband’spoorparishioners?” “I’mnotclearaboutthatbutIdaresayshewilldoherbesttomakethemcomfortableinbodyandmind,inaccordancewithourmother’sexample.”