‘Like him, dear; how on earth could one help liking him? Why, I think he’s simply delightful And that’s so surprising, too, because generally, you know, one’s friends will go and marry such regular horrid sticks of men. I think he’s the nicest man I’ve ever met anywhere, almost.’
‘And the exception is——?’
‘Put in for propriety’s sake, dear, for fear you should think I was quite too enthusiastic. And do you know, he tells me he’s going in for a judgeship in Trinidad; and won’t it be splendid, Marian, if he happens to get it, and you both go out there with me, darling? I shall be just too delighted.’
Marian gave a little sigh. ‘I shall be very glad if he gets it in one way,’ she said, ‘because then, of course, Edward and I will be able to marry immediately; and papa’s so very much opposed to a long engagement.’
‘Besides which,’ Nora put in frankly, ‘you’d naturally yourself, too, be glad to get married as soon as possible.’
‘But then, on the other hand,’ Marian went on, smiling quietly, ‘it would be a dreadful thing going so far away from all one’s friends and relations and so forth. Though, of course, with Edward to take care of me, I wouldn’t be afraid to go anywhere.’
‘Of course not,’ said Nora confidently. ‘And I shall be there, too, Marian; and we shall have such lovely times together. People have no end of fun in the West Indies, you know. Everybody says it’s the most delightful place in the world in the cool season. The floors are kept polished all the year round, without any carpets, just like the continent, and so you can have a dance at any moment, whenever people enough happen to drop in together accidentally of an evening. Mamma used to say there was no end of gaiety; and that she never could endure the stiffness and unsociability of English society, after the hospitable habits of dear old Trinidad.’
‘I hope we shall like it,’ Marian said, ‘if Edward really succeeds in getting this appointment. It’ll be a great alleviation to the pain of parting with one’s friends here, if you’re going to be there too, Nora.’
‘Yes, my dear, you must get married at once, and we must arrange somehow to go out to Trinidad together in the same steamer. I mean to have no end of fun going out. And when you get there, of course papa’ll be able to introduce you and Mr Hawthorn to all the society in the island. I call it just delightful.’
At that moment, the servant entered and announced Mr Hawthorn.