'"It's the having to obey him that will be the worst part," was Oliver's first remark after we had both pondered silently for a moment. "That's just what you will particularly hate, Fan. I'm sure you'll never keep that part of the promise. Why, you never were over-fond of obeying any one except mamma."
'This was a slight drawback, certainly, when one came to think about it. Oliver was right in his opinion that I dearly loved my own way,—and, with my brothers and Shad, I generally contrived to get it: for to the boys I made the most of my privileges as the eldest and the only girl; and as to Shad, he was the one person in the house who was willing to let us all have our own way. But then there were so many people to keep us in order. When there was mamma, my father, Master Waynefleet, not to mention old nurse, one certainly did not want any one else to command one's obedience.
'"Oh, of course, one's husband would be different," I said a little bit doubtfully, nevertheless. "You know mamma always obeys my father, though I don't think she quite likes it; at least not always. Do you know she said to-day that she wished I could have waited till I was older, to be married, but that papa thought it best that it should be at once. So it must be settled." I did not add, as mamma had done, "till I was old enough to know my own mind." At ten years old, I thought people, of course, must know their own minds; and I felt quite sure that I wanted to be the Earl of Desmond's wife, and that it would be a terrible disappointment to me if anything were to happen to prevent the marriage, or even to put it off till I should be grown-up.
'"Well," said Oliver philosophically, "perhaps people's husbands are different; at all events, that's your business. As long as I'm not forced to obey him, I don't care who does. But, Fan, won't it be good fun when he comes here. Is he very rich? I daresay he'll bring his own horses, and perhaps hounds too, and we can all go out hunting together. I wonder if he cares for fishing?"
'"I think he is very rich and grand," I remarked; "because Sir Harry said something about my having a splendid position at court."
'Oliver's countenance fell rather at this idea. He evidently could not appreciate the delights of "a splendid position at court."
'"Ah, but that would not be for a long while, surely, Fan; very likely not till you are grown-up. Fancy you mincing about in a court dress, just like a peacock, and saying, 'May it please your Majesty,' and flourishing an enormous fan!"
'I was ashamed to confess it to Oliver, but in my secret soul I rather liked this picture of myself in the "splendid position."
'"Yes," continued Oliver, "we shall have good sport if this husband of yours is a pleasant kind of a fellow; but we should have better still, if he was going to take you away with him to live at his own house."
'This speech did not sound like a brotherly one; and it wounded my feelings severely.