I rather slighted her: women are dd unforgiving. I like the aunt quite as well as I do the niece; her fortune is at her own disposal, and your brother may as well benefit by it as another—I shall make her an excellent husband."
Surprise is the only power that works miracles now-a-days; it fairly silenced Mrs. Clarke for full five minutes. Vexation at what she thought her brother's throwing himself away—mortification beforehand at her husband—for Dr. Clarke had a love for ponderous and orthodox jokes, whose edge had worn off by long use—anger at Emily, whom she considered the cause of all this—wonder at Mrs. Arundel—together with a gradual awakening to the pecuniary advantages of the match—all crossed and jostled her mind at once. At last she gasped out—"Are you sure Mrs. Arundel will have you?"
"I suppose so. I made her an offer this morning, which she accepted."
True enough: for the last fortnight he had been a constant visitor at the Hall; and Emily, who naturally supposed she was the object of his attraction, gave his visits only one thought—and that was, how to avoid them. Lady
