Mrs. Dorriman, Volume 3 of 3

o do; and she never for one moment thought that upon an occasion of this kind Grace would be wilful or obstinate. That sh

that sense), and no fuss, no bridesmaids. It was to

hy, my

ere is no o

now many people, and it is unusual to

a corner-I am to b

mean, Grace; and

ot got more sons, if y

nelt down beside he

n all the world there does not exist a more forlorn girl than I am. It would be mockery to summon acquaintances and call them friends. What do they know about me or about your son? I ha

, you do say s

ng the truth, perh

if it would be a

re are to be no guests; and, without gue

e look of the thing. You d

for wedding-cake myself, though I love the almond-pa

lbert (who was still detained in town), and he tr

ere, but to the church

nt people from g

s to give

Lady Lyons I intend borrowin

ld Sir J

made such a fuss about us. Of course, it

think of some one, an

kind, I cannot t

he is very kind, and it w

one. I think girls are to be envied who

one will you b

Lyons would like some one a little before the worl

it. I was so provoked about n

Margaret'

she is no

ere was the use of a long journ

are to wr

t jealous," an

said g

verything in general, and this impending difficulty in particula

Miss R

little on your wedding-day. The Duke begs me to say that he will give you away with pl

or breakfast. I wish other girls were a

rs t

ine Mal

ote to Lady Lyon

ee if there is any answer," sai

e wr

hess of M

, I shall be very grateful to you for so befriending me; it is good of

rs t

e Riv

ightfully arranged," said Lady Lyon

said Grace. "I told you befo

much as a matter of course,

ght I to laugh or cry? Tell me

be a litt

ased. I think the D

taken a fancy t

spect she does not

is? What do you

is all for

her! My dear, you real

eally are? Sir Albert knew how you lamented m

t's what I want to know," a

ons, who had from the first stated that she thought she had a gown t

ark, plum-coloured silk, very fashionably though quietly made,

corner. Corner, indeed! how kind, how very thoughtful of y

rom your new daughter," said Grace, but

e exclaimed; "what is it,

ost dear letter, and I could not help contrasting my marriage

hed sympathetically; "and Mr. Drayton had no p

h she laughed heartily; "fancy, in these days, talking like that! Why, all our leading spirit

r can follow," said poor Lady Lyons; "now you are

over and over again," said Grace, "and

Lyons, very heartily, who cons

ffection and kindness shown to her just now, "you will try and like me-love me a little b

turned round to leave the room, "that I also have thi

ing the question, "and I mean to be a

ish it was Margaret, but now I think you will like to know, that I

d a little a

ce again read Margaret's a

the news of her m

eeable speeches that may be made, but do not go on with it. Far better to bear angry words now than to marry without love. I would come to you, da

line, showed by its intensity what an agony of pain

as she read the letter, and sh

oking forward to happiness. Then she prayed long and ferve

orgotten," she said to herself, and she knew that t

She was quiet and composed. When Lady Lyons p

, leaving no one, an

qually honoured, but was disappointed; however, there was the register signed by the Duke and Duch

ft the church, they w

where have you been all this time? Does she not look sweet?" a

y Lyons; but she was not to be daunted; lay

to know each other; the Duc

Grace, with much composure, and p

y received no comfo

l," she said, bitterly; "I always thought she

as a thorough gentleman. I never could understand why you would never take the s

ace a magnificent bracelet, and a kind and f

ntion of Lady Penryn, she thanked him warmly, and told him about the Duche

eauty of colouring-all the fitful charm which makes t

ing and I see sunshine and blue sky, and a sea in which a thousand delicate colours melt and blend. Half-an-hour afterwards there are clouds, but all is still, light and the sun seem behind, and anxious to peep out again. Next comes darkness, the blue turns to

o much more her old self, that Grace was happier

g happens whic

ich I know nothing about)

ow, Paul, one thing in connection with our marriage

less it is something

d ever find to talk about. I was so afraid I should find your conversa

ple could find to talk about all their lives; since I knew you I have only though

ou are very good to me," she

nd lonely the kind little woman's heart would have gone out to her more, but she thought (as we often do think) that there was a certain injustice in Grace's being so happy, while Margaret, all

nstances of that compensation which is the rule in life, in spite of all assertions to the co

and the very vividness and gracefulness of fancy-that combination t

lent about these things. Every pang she suffered would be a remembrance to Grace. Grace, who was so softened an

riman how completely she was altered. They were not to stay long, those two; Paul had not very long leave of absence and wanted to get his wife south. Before they left, one day, Mrs. Dor

py, Grace," she began, the

u are very good to say

that whatever is, is right, but does it

ange about p

happy and that she .

in this world," Grace answe

all very much, though you look as though

e as a crime?" Grace as

r blame yourself." Mrs. Dorrim

we all do

it seem

ould blame

I do not m

h a sort of surprise in her face; "I know what all this

d you since you cal

tten nothing! I do blame myself! I know as well as you can tell me that my selfishness and impatience and everything else made Margaret wretched! Up till lately I was very very unhappy, and all her sufferings we

e nothing before her but the

ixed up with the recollection of its death, she will learn to think more happily even about its lo

ver see it i

recovering herself quickly she said, "It was about the short-sightedness of mourning a loss too deeply and not reflecting that it was a

" said Mrs. Dorriman, and

and again came the curious little grumbling sound from below, where the waves lapped and splashed quietly against the rocks. These waves seemed held by a restraining hand, they were so quiet. A night-hawk gave its weird cry, and some owls hooted; the trees seemed to have nothing to say, their usual rustle was, for the time, stilled. The sisters, in their different ways, felt the great b

lk of heaven an

cribable peace, and yet these influence

rets must be softened to one. To leave the world before it has been tempted, before it has sinned, with

ved there might have been perpetual dread of an hereditary curse. No, what troubles me now, in my

er from self-reproach what must I do?"

child being taken from me. I allowed that fear to paralyse my senses. I might have appealed to Mr. Sandford, and done many things I know now I might have done: and it would have been better for him; but I simply lived for my little one; my senses seemed numbed in all directions exc

London doctor said to me that the little child could not have been saved; th

od," said Margaret, so low tha

n, about the scenery round

urious thing is that she so entirely forgets at times; then something brings

vy or creeper that the wind has blown away from its support. She is one of the women who mus

n way, he has b

own way," said G

Mr. Sandford," Margare

cies about most people, darl

ll only

r not t

e him more

felt like a boat without oars or rudder, or whatever the thing is that steers it, I feel ever so much kinder about every body-even ab

e. I often wonder whether trial o

d hurt you; but for me, I am a sort of acid

s life, perhaps when he was quite young, he has suffer

ing up," said Grace, laughing; "he is

in him, and his devotion to his wife shows he has warm

ll that you were his first grand passion

ce from below, and Paul, his cigar

ost melting accents, "that, though you once wer

e window. She was moved by what Grace had repeated to her about her

han she had ever thought him capable of; and yet, she said to herself, that for her to give her whole hear

e help, and some one in whom she co

art, crushed as it had been, and cruelly as she had suffered, was not hopelessly embittered. She knew that she could love, and then she sighed. Large tears

ace, but it was a parting in whic

by saying to her, "You will, I hope,

Mrs. Dorriman's face was expre

; "never mind about understanding now, you

s. Dorriman stood looking out of the window ti

e? she does say such odd things, sometimes.

icular thing you mean, dear aunti

Now, my dear, what news can I have to send her from here

; Grace often says thin

know her so much better than I do. W

ing to rain," Margaret said

ther," the poor little woman said