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Preparing for the Wedding Meanwhile the love affairs of the middle-aged couple were prospering well, after a fashion; after the fashion that they liked best, although it might probably have appeared dull and prosaic to younger people. Lord Cumnor had come down in great glee at the news he had heard from his wife at the Towers. He, too, seemed to think he had taken an active part in bringing about the match by only speaking about it. His first words on the subject to Lady Cumnor were I told you so. Now didnt I say what a good, suitable affair this affair between Gibson and Clare would be! I dont know when Ive been so much pleased. You may despise the trade of match-maker, my lady, but I am very proud of it. After this, I shall go on looking out for suitable cases among the middle-aged people of my acquaintance. I shant meddle with young folks, they are so apt to be fanciful; but Ive been so successful in this, that I do think its good encouragement to go on. Go onwith what? asked Lady Cumnor drily. Oh, planning! You cant deny that I planned this match. I dont think you are likely to do either much good or harm by planning, she replied, with cool good- sense. It puts it into peoples heads, my dear. Yes, if you speak about your plans to them, of course it does. But in this case you never spoke to either Mr. Gibson or Clare, did you? All at once the recollection of how Clare had come upon the passage in Lord Cumnors letter flashed on his lady; but she did not say anything about it, but left her husband to flounder about as best he might. No! I never spoke to them; of course not. Then you must be strongly mesmeric, and your will acted upon theirs, if you are to take credit for any part in the affair, continued his pitiless wife. I really cant say. Its no use looking back to what I said or did. Im very well satisfied with it, and thats enough, and I mean to show them how much Im pleased. I shall give Clare something towards her rigging-out, and they shall have a breakfast at Ashcombe Manor-house. Ill write to Preston about it. When did you say they were to be married? I think theyd better wait till Christmas, and I have told them so. It would amuse the children, going over to Ashcombe for the wedding; and if its bad weather during the holidays Im always afraid of their finding it dull at the Towers. Its very different if its a good frost, and they can go out skating and sledging in the park. But these last two years it has been so wet for them, poor dears! And will the other poor dears be content to wait to make a holiday for your grandchildren? To make a Roman holiday. Pope, or somebody else, has a line of poetry like that. To make a Roman holiday,he repeated, pleased with his unusual aptitude at quotation. Its Byron, and its nothing to do with the subject in hand. Im surprised at your lordships quoting Byronhe was a very immoral poet. I saw him take his oaths in the House of Lords, said Lord Cumnor apologetically. Well! the less said about him the better, said Lady Cumnor. I have told Clare that she had better not think of being married before Christmas; and it wont do for her to give up her school in a hurry either. But Clare did not intend to wait till Christmas; and for this once she carried her point against the will of the countess, and without many words, or any open opposition. She had a harder task in setting |
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