There was a strong mixture of unselfish love, and fear of solitude; of the triumph of marrying a daughter, and dread of separation; of affection, and of implanted worldliness; touching Albinia at one moment, and paining her at another; but she soothed and caressed the old lady, and was a willing listener to what was meant for a history of the former transaction; but as it started from old Mr. Pringle’s grandfather, it had only proceeded as far as the wedding of the Captain’s father and mother, when it was broken off by Mr. Kendal’s entrance.

’Oh! my dear Mr. Kendal, and what does poor Maria say?  It is so kind in you.  I hope you have taken her in hand, and told her it is quite another thing now, and her poor dear papa would think so.  She must not let this opportunity pass, for she may never have another.  Did you tell her so?’

’I told her that, under the circumstances, she has no alternative but to accept Captain Pringle.’

‘Oh! thank you.  And does she?’

‘She has given me leave to send him to her.’

’I am so much obliged.  I knew that nobody but you could settle it for her, poor dear girl; she is so young and inexperienced, and one is so much at a loss without a gentleman.  But this is very kind; I did not expect it in you, Mr. Kendal.  And will you see Mr. Pettilove, and do all that is proper about settlements, as her poor dear papa would have done.  Poor Pettilove, he was once very much in love with Maria!’

In this mood of triumph and felicity, the old lady was left to herself and her daughter.  Albinia, on the way home, begged to hear how Mr. Kendal had managed Maria; and found that he had simply told her, in an authoritative tone, that after all that had passed, she had no choice but to accept Captain Pringle, and that he had added a promise, equally vague and reassuring, of being a son to Mrs. Meadows.  Such injunctions from such a quarter had infused new life into Maria; and in the course of the afternoon, Albinia met the Captain with the mother and daughter, one on each arm, Maria in recovered bloom and brilliancy, and Mrs. Meadows’s rheumatism forgotten in the glory of exhibiting her daughter engaged.

For form’s sake, secrecy had been mentioned; but the world of Bayford had known of the engagement a fortnight before took place.  Sophy had been questioned upon it by Mary Wolfe two hours ere she was officially informed, and was sore with the recollection of her own ungracious professions of ignorance.

‘So it is true,’ she said.  ’I don’t mind, since Arthur is not a girl.’

Mr. Kendal laughed so heartily, that Sophy looked to Albinia for explanation; but even on the repetition of her words, she failed to perceive anything ridiculous in them.

‘Why, mamma,’ she said, impressively, ’if you had been like Aunt Maria, I should—­’ she paused and panted for sufficient strength of phrase—­’I should have run away and begged!  Papa laughs, but I am sure he remembers when grandmamma and Aunt Maria wanted to come and live here!’