"
"Glad! Why what do you suppose they would want me to do? Dear papa!
And dear mamma too, because she has really been good to me. I
wonder when it must be?" Then that question was discussed at great
length, and Lady Ushant had a great deal of very good advice to
bestow. She didn't like long engagements, and it was very essential
for Reginald's welfare that he should settle himself at Bragton as
soon as possible. Mary's pleas for a long day were not very urgent.
That evening at Bragton was rather long and rather dull. It was
almost the first that she had ever passed in company with Reginald,
and there now seemed to be a necessity of doing something peculiar,
whereas there was nothing peculiar to be done. It was his custom to
betake himself to his books after dinner; but he could hardly do so
with ease in company with the girl who had just promised him to be
his wife. Lady Ushant too wished to show her extreme joy, and made
flattering but vain attempts to be ecstatic. Mary, to tell the
truth, was longing for solitude, feeling that she could not yet
realise her happiness.
Not even when she was in bed could she reduce her mind to order. It
would have been all but impossible even had he remained the
comparative humble lord of Hoppet Hall;--but that the squire of
Bragton should be her promised husband was a marvel so great that
from every short slumber, she waked with fear of treacherous
dreams.
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