Ellen looked in the face of Matilda, to see if she did indeed rejoice; she perceived a tear twinkle in the corner of her young friend’s eye, but it was not the tear of sorrow. Ellen could now read the heart on subjects of this kind; she felt that she had been completely mistaken in Matilda’s supposed predilection, and she was almost sorry to see her so happy.
“There is a—a—another affair going on at our house,” said Ellen, after a pause.
Matilda felt her heart beat with unusual violence; she could not speak, but her very soul peeped out of her eyes to say—“What is it?”
“It is not a parting; it—it—is a joining.”
“Oh,” said Matilda, calling all her fortitude to her aid, “you are going to have a wedding, eh?”
“I believe it will come to that, indeed, some time.”
Matilda turned as pale as death; but her colour rushed suddenly back to her cheeks, as at this moment the door opened, and Mr. Harewood and Mrs. Hanson broke on their tête-à-tête. The former felt assured that poor Matilda had heard the destination of Charles, and was suffering under it; but as he could hardly believe Mrs. Hanson would consent to her marriage with his youngest son, and as he thought Charles himself had no thoughts of marriage at this time, he could not allow himself to rejoice in her predilection. To relieve her, he said—“Well, my dear, you heard how we are situated, some of us parting for a time, some uniting for ever; I am sure you rejoice in all that is good, in either of these cases.”
Matilda, overpowered, burst into sudden tears.
“My daughter is very nervous this morning,” said Mrs. Hanson; “she cannot help being affected with such material changes in the state of those she loves so well; you are aware her tears are those of joy, Mr. Harewood.”
Matilda struggled to recover her composure, and, turning to Mr. Harewood, she put both her hands into his, and said, with a low but earnest voice—“My dear, dear sir, I do most truly rejoice in the prospect of any good that can befall your family; I saw the—the young lady—the bride-elect—she is very pretty—I hope she will be as good as she is handsome; and I——”