The day after the funeral Peignton left Chumley. Teresa took it for granted that he would not return until the date of the wedding, but it was arranged that during the interval she should procure the chaperonage of a married friend, and pay a week’s visit to her future home, when such important questions as carpets and wall-papers could be discussed.
“We won’t be in a hurry to furnish the whole house. We’ll start with just what is necessary, and amuse ourselves with picking up the superfluities one by one. It will be jolly collecting treasures on our honeymoon. If we go off the beaten route, we shall find lots of happy hunting grounds. It will give the sticks an added value to remember how we bought them,—eh, little girl?” Peignton said, smiling. The old-time interest in the prospect of introducing Teresa to the beauties of new lands was struggling into new life. The prospect of a home gained hourly in sweetness.
During the next few days the Chumley matrons garbed themselves in black, and, with discreetly lengthened visages, repaired to the Cottage on visits of condolence, to emerge half an hour or so later, considerably shocked and bewildered. They were prepared to mourn with a widow for the loss her husband; with a householder for the loss of income, with a mother whose daughter was neglected by her lover—they beheld instead a complacent personage in weeds, shedding a dutiful tear for “Papa,” and hastily whisking it away at the remembrance of “many blessings.”
“So much to be thankful for! Mary home, and so useful. Taken up her old duties, and dear little Trissie so happy! The Captain, devoted. His house to be done up, regardless of expense. The marriage in August. Quiet of course, but white. Just,” the widow declared with a sigh, “as Papa had planned!”
On the subject of finance the good lady was equally complacent. “There had been losses... poor Papa had been ill-advised, but if income were to be reduced, so, most appropriately, would be expenses also. No one but Mary and myself to think of. Between you and me,” said Mrs Mallison to each visitor in turn, “I believe we shall feel quite rich!”
Grizel Beverley delivered a spirited account of her own interview with the widow for the benefit of Cassandra on her first subsequent visit to the Court. She thought it probable that rumour had already carried the announcement of the marriage, but preferred to make sure of this in indirect fashion, rather than by an open question.
“Oh, she is a wonderful woman, is Mrs Mallison,” she quoted mischievously. “The Vicar says she is bearing up wonderfully, I say she is having the time of her life. Notices in the paper, references in church, flocks of callers, everyone talking about her,—what could she wish for more? She looks so imposing, too, in her bombazines. Have you the slightest idea what bombazines are? Neither have I, but you may take my word for it—she’s got ’em! Poor Papa is quite a useful stalking horse, and has a tear dropped to his memory, before she enters upon the real subject of interest.”
“I know,” Cassandra said quietly, “Teresa’s marriage. It’s arranged for August, I hear. I knew it must be. Teresa’s not the sort of girl to live on her sister’s income, and Dane couldn’t,—after all this time, he couldn’t let her turn out to work!” She sat silent for a few minutes, her eyes gazing sightlessly over the terraced gardens. “So at long last, this is the end, Grizel!”
“And at long last—are you still sorry, Cassandra?”
“I—don’t—know!” sighed Cassandra slowly. “In one way I shall be almost glad when the strain is over. I’ve come to see that, for him, it’s the best way out. He wasn’t made to live alone. She will make him happy—not so happy as I could have done, but he has wasted enough time, and it’s useless waiting on... Oh, he will patch up his life, Grizel.—It will be all new—so many interests cropping up.—He won’t have time to think. And I shall settle down better when it’s all over. Teresa’s husband won’t be my Dane! ... My poor little love story! it had a very short course.—I wonder if any other married woman ever loved so wisely and so well!”