"Exactly, and they continued to bewail them till it came into their heads that since they could not take those vows they might as well try some others. Moreover, Robert came unexpectedly into quite a good estate by the death of his mother's brother. He thought it his duty to take a wife, as he was the last of his father's family, and so it came about."
"I dare say Philippa persuaded herself all the time that she was making a great sacrifice?"
"Oh, of course; but she was as elated at the prospect as any girl I ever saw, and as much agog for finery, especially for a silk dress. One of the first things that seemed to strike her was that, as Robert was a gentleman of landed estate, she might now wear silk and velvet."
"It must be a comfort to have her—" out of the house, I was going to say, but I changed that phrase to "well settled in life."
My aunt smiled. "I will not deny that it is a relief. She was one of those people of whom you can never guess what they will do next. But she has been more amiable of late, and as Robert is a good-humored man with a will of his own, I hope they may be reasonably happy."
"He would need a good strong will, or none at all, to live peaceably with her," said I. "In all my life, I never saw so perverse a person."
"Well, well, she was a trial, no doubt, but there are others as bad. This is a life of trial, sweetheart, in one way and another. But it grows dark and I must go. I will see you again in a day or two, if you are no worse for this visit."
I slept well that night and awoke feeling quite myself. From that day my recovery was rapid. The doctor said I might soon leave my chamber, and he advised my mistress that it would be well to send me to Master Davis's, for a while, or else to the country, for change of scene.
"How would you like to go down to Master Yates's farm?" asked my aunt one day when we were discussing the matter. "You remember you staid there when you were getting over the ague, before you went to the convent."
"Then the old people are still living?" I said.