Therefore it is sealed and deposited for posting among the iron correspondence of the day.  This done, Mr. George takes a hearty farewell of the family party and prepares to saddle and mount.  His brother, however, unwilling to part with him so soon, proposes to ride with him in a light open carriage to the place where he will bait for the night, and there remain with him until morning, a servant riding for so much of the journey on the thoroughbred old grey from Chesney Wold.  The offer, being gladly accepted, is followed by a pleasant ride, a pleasant dinner, and a pleasant breakfast, all in brotherly communion.  Then they once more shake hands long and heartily and part, the ironmaster turning his face to the smoke and fires, and the trooper to the green country.  Early in the afternoon the subdued sound of his heavy military trot is heard on the turf in the avenue as he rides on with imaginary clank and jingle of accoutrements under the old elm-trees.

CHAPTER LXIV

Esther’s Narrative

Soon after I had that convertion with my guardian, he put a sealed paper in my hand one morning and said, “This is for next month, my dear.”  I found in it two hundred pounds.

I now began very quietly to make such preparations as I thought were necessary.  Regulating my purchases by my guardian’s taste, which I knew very well of course, I arranged my wardrobe to please him and hoped I should be highly successful.  I did it all so quietly because I was not quite free from my old apprehension that Ada would be rather sorry and because my guardian was so quiet himself.  I had no doubt that under all the circumstances we should be married in the most private and simple manner.  Perhaps I should only have to say to Ada, “Would you like to come and see me married to-morrow, my pet?” Perhaps our wedding might even be as unpretending as her own, and I might not find it necessary to say anything about it until it was over.  I thought that if I were to choose, I would like this best.

The only exception I made was Mrs. Woodcourt.  I told her that I was going to be married to my guardian and that we had been engaged some time.  She highly approved.  She could never do enough for me and was remarkably softened now in comparison with what she had been when we first knew her.  There was no trouble she would not have taken to have been of use to me, but I need hardly say that I only allowed her to take as little as gratified her kindness without tasking it.

Of course this was not a time to neglect my guardian, and of course it was not a time for neglecting my darling.  So I had plenty of occupation, which I was glad of; and as to Charley, she was absolutely not to be seen for needlework.  To surround herself with great heaps of it—­baskets full and tables full—­and do a little, and spend a great deal of time in staring with her round eyes at what there was to do, and persuade herself that she was going to do it, were Charley’s great dignities and delights.