"It is not very easy for us
to make up our minds."
"Put it off, then, for six months, and in the meantime I will take
you to Europe. I should like you very much to go."
It gave her such delight, after his words of the day before, to hear
that he should "like" her to do something, and that he still had in
his heart any of the tenderness of preference, that she gave a little
exclamation of joy. But then she became conscious that Morris was
not included in this proposal, and that--as regards really going--she
would greatly prefer to remain at home with him. But she blushed,
none the less, more comfortably than she had done of late. "It would
be delightful to go to Europe," she remarked, with a sense that the
idea was not original, and that her tone was not all it might be.
"Very well, then, we will go. Pack up your clothes."
"I had better tell Mr. Townsend," said Catherine.
Her father fixed his cold eyes upon her. "If you mean that you had
better ask his leave, all that remains to me is to hope he will give
it."
The girl was sharply touched by the pathetic ring of the words; it
was the most calculated, the most dramatic little speech the Doctor
had ever uttered. She felt that it was a great thing for her, under
the circumstances, to have this fine opportunity of showing him her
respect; and yet there was something else that she felt as well, and
that she presently expressed.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170