‘Do you think that he ever was really engaged to her?’ Dorothy said to her aunt.  Dorothy was now living in a seventh heaven of happiness, writing love-letters to Brooke Burgess every other day, and devoting to this occupation a number of hours of which she ought to have been ashamed; making her purchases for her wedding with nothing, however, of the magnificence of a Camilla, but discussing everything with her aunt, who urged her on to extravagances which seemed beyond the scope of her own economical ideas; settling, or trying to settle, little difficulties which perplexed her somewhat, and wondering at her own career.  She could not of course be married without the presence of her mother and sister, and her aunt with something of a grim courtesy had intimated that they should be made welcome to the house in the Close for the special occasion.  But nothing had been said about Hugh.  The wedding was to be in the Cathedral, and Dorothy had a little scheme in her head for meeting her brother among the aisles.  He would no doubt come down with Brooke, and nothing perhaps need be said about it to Aunt Stanbury.  But still it was a trouble.  Her aunt had been so good that Dorothy felt that no step should be taken which would vex the old woman.  It was evident enough that when permission had been given for the visit of Mrs Stanbury and Priscilla, Hugh’s name had been purposely kept back.  There had been no accidental omission.  Dorothy, therefore, did not dare to mention it, and yet it was essential for her happiness that he should be there.  At the present moment Miss Stanbury’s intense interest in the Stanbury wedding was somewhat mitigated by the excitement occasioned by Mr Gibson’s refusal to be married.  Dorothy was so shocked that she could not bring herself to believe the statement that had reached them through Martha.

‘Of course he was engaged to her.  We all knew that,’ said Miss Stanbury.

‘I think there must have been some mistake,’ said Dorothy.  ’I don’t see how he could do it.’

’There is no knowing what people can do, my dear, when they’re hard driven.  I suppose we shall have a lawsuit now, and he’ll have to pay ever so much money.  Well, well, well! see what a deal of trouble you might have saved!’

’But, he’d have done the same to me, aunt, only, you know, I never could have taken him.  Isn’t it better as it is, aunt?  Tell me.’

’I suppose young women always think it best when they can get their own ways.  An old woman like me has only got to do what she is bid.’

‘But this was best, aunt, was it not?’

’My dear, you’ve had your way, and let that be enough.  Poor Camilla French is not allowed to have hers at all.  Dear, dear, dear!  I didn’t think the man would ever have been such a fool to begin with or that he would ever have had the heart to get out of it afterwards.’  It astonished Dorothy to find that her aunt was not loud in reprobation of Mr Gibson’s very dreadful conduct.