I wonder what your life will be." Mary blushed and
said nothing. "If there were anything to tell I wish I knew it"
"There is nothing to tell."
"Nothing?"
She thought a moment before she answered him and then she said,
"Nothing. What should I have to tell?" she added trying to laugh.
He remained for a few minutes silent, and then put his head out
towards her as he spoke. "I was afraid that you might have to tell
that you were engaged to marry Mr. Twentyman."
"I am not"
"Oh!--I am so glad to hear it"
"I don't know why you should be glad. If I had said I was, it would
have been very uncivil if you hadn't declared yourself glad to hear
that"
"Then I must have been uncivil for I couldn't have done it. Knowing
how my aunt loves you, knowing what she thinks of you and what she
would think of such a match, remembering myself what I do of you, I
could not have congratulated you on your engagement to a man whom I
think so much inferior to yourself in every respect. Now you know
it all,--why I was angry at the bridge, why I was hardly civil to
you at your father's house; and, to tell the truth, why I have been
so anxious to be alone with you for half an hour. If you think it
an offence that I should take so much interest in you, I will beg
your pardon for that also."
"Oh, no!"
"I have never spoken to my aunt about it, but I do not think that
she would have been contented to hear that you were to become the
wife of Mr.
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