CHAPTER VIII. THE “COMING OUT”

’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.”