The Convenient Marriage Read Online Free PDF Page B

situation had gone beyond the powers of her vinaigrette to mend, for she allowed it to slip from her hand to the floor while she stared in a bemused way at her youngest-born.
    It was Charlotte who found her voice first. 'Horatia, do you say that you had the Indelicacy, the Impropriety, the -the Forwardness, to ask Lord Rule to marry you?'
    'Yes,' said Horatia staunchly. 'I had to.'
    'And - and—' Charlotte groped for words - 'he consented to - to marry you in place of Lizzie ?'
    Horatia nodded.
    'He cannot,' said Charlotte, 'have noticed the Stammer.'
    Horatia put up her chin, 'I's-spoke to him about the S-stammer, and he said he l-liked it!'
    Elizabeth rose up from her chair and clasped Horatia in her arms. 'Oh, why should he not? Dearest, dearest, never could I permit you to sacrifice yourself for me!'
    Horatia suffered the embrace. 'Well, to tell you the truth,
    Lizzie, I would like to m-marry him. But I c-can't help wondering whether you are quite sure you d-don't want to?' She searched her sister's face. 'Do-do you really like Edward better?'
    'Oh, my love!'
    'Well, I c-can't understand it,' said Horatia.
    'It is not to be supposed,' stated Charlotte flatly, 'that Lord Rule was in earnest. Depend upon it, he thinks Horry a Mere Child.'
    'N-no, he does not!' said Horatia, firing up. 'He w-was in earnest, and he is c-coming to tell M-mama at three this afternoon.'
    'I beg that no one will expect me to face Lord Rule!' said Lady Winwood. 'I am ready to sink into the ground!'
    'Will he come?' demanded Charlotte. 'What irremediable harm may not Horry's impropriety have wrought? We must ask ourselves, will Lord Rule desire to ally himself with a Family one of whose members has shown herself so dead to all feelings of Modesty and Female Reserve?'
    'Charlotte, you shall not say that!' said Elizabeth with unwonted stringency. 'What should he think but that our dearest is but an impulsive child?'
    'We must hope it,' Charlotte said heavily. 'But if she has divulged your attachment to Edward Heron I fear that all is at an end. We who know and value dear Horry do not notice her blemishes, but what gentleman would engage to marry her in place of the Beauty of the Family?'
    'I thought of that myself,' admitted Horatia. 'He's-says he thinks he will grow used to my horrid eyebrows quite easily. And I will't-tell you something, Charlotte! He said it would be a p-pity if I became any taller.'
    'How mortifying it is to reflect that Lord Rule may have been amusing himself at the expense of a Winwood!' said Charlotte.
    But it seemed that Lord Rule had not been amusing himself. At three o'clock he walked up the steps of No. 20 South Street, and inquired for Lady Winwood.
    In spite of her dramatic refusal to face the Earl, Lady Winwood had been induced to await him in the withdraw-ing-room, fortified by smelling-salts, and a new polonaise with tobine stripes which had arrived from her dressmaker's just in time to avert a nervous collapse.
    Her interview with his lordship lasted for half an hour, at the end of which time the footman was dispatched to inform Miss Horatia that her presence in the withdrawing-room was desired.
    'Aha!' cried Horatia, shooting a wicked glance at Charlotte, and springing to her feet.
    Elizabeth caught her hands. 'Horry, it is not too late! If this arrangement is repugnant to you, for Heaven's sake speak, and I will throw myself upon Lord Rule's generosity!'
    'Repugnant? S-stuff!' said Horatia, and danced out.
    'Horry, Horry, at least let me straighten your sash!' shrieked Charlotte.
    'Too late,' Elizabeth said. She clasped her hands to her breast. 'If I could be assured that this is no Immolation upon the Altar of Sisterly Love!'
    'If you wish to know what I think,' said Charlotte, 'Horry is very well pleased with herself.'
    Horatia, opening the door into the withdrawing-room, found her mother actually upon her feet, the smelling-salts lying forgotten on an ormolu table by the fire. In the middle of the room Rule was