Arabella herself was surprised at the ease with which it was all
done. On the Saturday Lady Augustus came, and on the Sunday Lord
Augustus. The parents of course kissed their child, but there was
very little said in the way either of congratulation or farewell.
Lord Augustus did have some conversation with Mounser Green, but it
all turned on the probability of there being whist in Patagonia. On
the Monday morning they were married, and then Arabella was taken
off by the happy bridegroom.
When the ceremony was over it was expected that Lady Augustus
should take herself away as quickly as possible, not perhaps on
that very afternoon, but at any rate, on the next morning. As soon
as the carriage was gone, she went to her own room and wept
bitterly. It was all done now. Everything was over. Though she had
quarrelled daily with her daughter for the last twelve years,--to
such an extent lately that no decently civil word ever passed
between them,--still there had been something to interest her.
There had been something to fear and something to hope. The girl
had always had some prospect before her, more or less brilliant.
Her life had had its occupation, and future triumph was possible.
Now it was all over. The link by which she had been bound to the
world was broken. The Connop Greens and the Smijths would no longer
have her, unless it might be on short and special occasions, as a
great favour.
Pages:
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779