“Sacrifice! Nonsense! The man is not young certainly, but then what a grand creature, and so clever.”
“Clever—yes! But that was your very objection to him five minutes ago.”
“I forgot the CRISIS.—One don’t want clever men every day, but there are days when one does want them!”
“I envy you that aphorism. But from what you now imply, I fear that Honoria may have allowed her thoughts to settle upon what may never take place; and if so, she may fret.”
“Fret! a daughter of mine fret!—and of all my daughters, Honoria! A girl of the best-disciplined mind! Fret! what a word!—vulgar!”
COLONEL MORLEY.—“So it is; I blush for it; but let us understand each other. If Darrell proposed for Honoria, you think, ambition apart, she would esteem him sufficiently for a decided preference.”
LADY SELINA,—“If that be his doubt, re-assure him. He is shy-men of genius are; Honoria would esteem him! Till he has actually proposed it would compromise her to say more even to you.”
COLONEL MORLEY.—“And if that be not the doubt, and if I ascertain that Darrell has no idea of proposing, Honoria would—”
LADY SELINA.—“Despise him. Ah, I see by your countenance that you think I should prepare her. Is it so, frankly?”
COLONEL MORLEY.—“Frankly, then. I think Guy Darrell, like many other men, has been so long in making up his mind to marry again that he has lost the right moment, and will never find it.”