CHAPTER XVII. CONFESSIONS

anywhereelsebeyondthelimitsoftheschoolroom,bygivingmeapieceofmusictocopy,whichkeptmecloselyoccupiedtillbed-time.Aboutelevennextmorning,assoonasshehadleftherroom,shecametotellmehernews.SirThomashadindeedproposedtoherattheballaneventwhichreflectedgreatcreditonhermamma’ssagacity,ifnotuponherskillincontrivance.Iratherinclinetothebeliefthatshehadfirstlaidherplans,andthenpredictedtheirsuccess.Theofferhadbeenaccepted,ofcourse,andthebridegroomelectwascomingthatdaytosettlematterswithMr.Murray. RosaliewaspleasedwiththethoughtsofbecomingmistressofAshbyParkshewaselatedwiththeprospectofthebridalceremonyanditsattendantsplendourandéclat,thehoneymoonspentabroad,andthesubsequentgaietiessheexpectedtoenjoyinLondonandelsewheresheappearedprettywellpleasedtoo,forthetimebeing,withSirThomashimself,becauseshehadsolatelyseenhim,dancedwithhim,andbeenflatteredbyhimbut,afterall,sheseemedtoshrinkfromtheideaofbeingsosoonunited:shewishedtheceremonytobedelayedsomemonths,atleastandIwishedittoo.Itseemedahorriblethingtohurryontheinauspiciousmatch,andnottogivethepoorcreaturetimetothinkandreasonontheirrevocablestepshewasabouttotake.Imadenopretensionto“amother’swatchful,anxiouscare,”butIwasamazedandhorrifiedatMrs.Murray’sheartlessness,orwantofthoughtfortherealgoodofherchildandbymyunheededwarningsandexhortations,Ivainlystrovetoremedytheevil.MissMurrayonlylaughedatwhatIsaidandIsoonfoundthatherreluctancetoanimmediateunionarosechieflyfromadesiretodowhatexecutionshecouldamongtheyounggentlemenofheracquaintance,beforeshewasincapacitatedfromfurthermischiefofthekind.Itwasforthiscausethat,beforeconfidingtomethesecretofherengagement,shehadextractedapromisethatIwouldnotmentionawordonthesubjecttoanyone.AndwhenIsawthis,andwhenIbeheldherplungemorerecklesslythaneverintothedepthsofheartlesscoquetry,Ihadnomorepityforher.“Comewhatwill,”Ithought,“shedeservesit.SirThomascannotbetoobadforherandthesoonersheisincapacitatedfromdeceivingandinjuringothersthebetter.” TheweddingwasfixedforthefirstofJune.Betweenthatandthecriticalballwaslittlemorethansixweeksbut,withRosalie’saccomplishedskillandresoluteexertion,muchmightbedone,evenwithinthatperiodespeciallyasSirThomasspentmostoftheinteriminLondonwhitherhewentup,itwassaid,tosettleaffairswithhislawyer,andmakeotherpreparationsfortheapproachingnuptials.Heendeavouredtosupplythewantofhispresencebyaprettyconstantfireofbillets-douxbutthesedidnotattracttheneighbours’attention,andopentheireyes,aspersonalvisitswouldhavedoneandoldLadyAshby’shaughty,sourspiritofreservewithheldherfromspreadingthenews,whileherindifferenthealthpreventedhercomingtovisitherfuturedaughter-in-lawsothat,altogether,thisaffairwaskeptfarcloserthansuchthingsusuallyare. Rosaliewouldsometimesshowherlover’sepistlestome,toconvincemewhatakind,devotedhusbandhewouldmake.Sheshowedmethelettersofanotherindividual,too,theunfortunateMr.Green,whohadnotthecourage,or,assheexpressedit,the“spunk,”topleadhiscauseinperson,butwhomonedenialwouldnotsatisfy:hemustwriteagainandagain.Hewouldnothavedonesoifhecouldhaveseenthegrimaceshisfairidolmadeoverhismovingappealstoherfeelings,andheardherscornfullaughter,andtheopprobriousepithetssheheapeduponhimforhisperseverance. “Whydon’tyoutellhim,atonce,thatyouareengaged?”Iasked. “Oh,Idon’twanthimtoknowthat,”repliedshe.“Ifheknewit,hissistersandeverybodywouldknowit,andthentherewouldbeanendofmy—ahem!And,besides,ifItoldhimthat,hewouldthinkmyengagementwastheonlyobstacle,andthatIwouldhavehimifIwerefreewhichIcouldnotbearthatanymanshouldthink,a