Flora asked further questions, and she was obliged to explain. It roused Flora’s energies at once.
“This will never do!” she said. “They must marry, and go with my aunt.”
Ethel was aghast. “They would not hear of it now!”
“They must. It is the only reasonable thing. Why, Norman would be miserable, and as to Meta—Imagine his going out and returning—a year’s work, such an expense and loss of time, besides the missing Aunt Flora.”
“If it were not wrong—”
“The waste would be the wrong thing. Besides—” and she told of Margaret’s wishes.
“But, Flora, think—the last week in February—and you so ill!”
“I am not to marry them,” said Flora, smiling. “If it could be in a fortnight, they could go and get their outfit afterwards, and come back to us when I am stronger. Let me see—there need be no fuss about settlements—Mr. Rivers’s will arranges everything for her.”
“It would be a good thing to get rid of a fine wedding,” said Ethel; “but they will never consent!”
“Yes, they will, and be grateful.”