"I wish the twenty-first was to-morrow!"
"That is the thing I wish to speak about. Mamma, that day, the day for my marriage, has been appointed too early—I feel hurried, and not ready. I want to study my own mind and know exactly what I am doing. I am going to ask you to have it put off."
"Put it off!—" cried Mrs. Powle. Language contained no other words of equal importance to be spoken in the same breath with those three.
"Yes. I want it put off."
"Till when, if you please. It might as well be doomsday at once."
"Till doomsday, if necessary; but I want it put off. I do not stipulate for so long a time as that," said Eleanor putting her hand to her head.
"What day would you name, in lieu of the twenty-first? I should like to know how far your arrangements extend."
"I want time to collect my thoughts and be ready for so great a change. I want time to study, and think,—and pray. I shall ask for at least three months."
"Three months! Till April! And pray, what has ailed your ladyship not to study and think and pray if you like, all these months that have passed?"
"I have no chance. My time is all taken up. I can do nothing, but go round in a whirl—till my head is spinning."