He observed, and continued: "And it seems these sables are known throughout the county. There were several carriages in the town, and my informant heard a lady say they were Mrs. Vizard's sables, worth five hundred guineas--a Russian princess gave them her.""It is quite true," said Zoe. "His mother's sables! Is it possible!""They all say he is caught at last, and this is to be the next Mrs.
Vizard."
"They may well say so, if he parades her in his mother's sables," said Zoe, and could not conceal her jealousy and her indignation. "I never dared so much as ask his permission to wear them," said she.
"And if you had, he would have told you the relics of a saint were not to be played with.""That is just what he would have said, I do believe." The female heart was stung.
"Ah, well," said Severne, "I am sure I should not grudge him his happiness, if you would see things as he does, and be as brave as he is.""Thank you," said Zoe. "Women cannot defy the world as men do." Then, passionately, "Why do you torment me so? why do you urge me so? a poor girl, all alone, and far from advice. What on earth would you have me do?""Secure us against another separation, unite us in bliss forever.""And so I would if I could; you know I would. But it is impossible.""No, Zoe; it is easy. There are two ways: we can reach Scotland in eight hours; and there, by a simple writing and declaration before witnesses, we are man and wife.""A Gretna Green marriage?"
"It is just as much a legal marriage as if a bishop married us at St.
Paul's. However, we could follow it up immediately by marriage in a church, either in Scotland or the North of England But there is another way: we can be married at Bagley, any day, before the registrar.""Is that a marriage--a real marriage?"
"As real, as legal, as binding as a wedding in St. Paul's.""Nobody in this county has ever been married so. I should blush to be seen about after it.""Our first happy year would not be passed in this country. We should go abroad for six months.""Ay, fly from shame."
"On our return we should be received with open arms by my own people in Huntingdonshire, until your people came round, as they always do."He then showed her a letter, in which his pearl of a cousin said they would receive his wife with open arms, and make her as happy as they could. Uncle Tom was coming home from India, with two hundred thousand pounds; he was a confirmed old bachelor, and Edward his favorite, etc.
Zoe faltered a little: so then he pressed her hard with love, and entreaties, and promises, and even hysterical tears; then she began to cry--a sure sign of yielding. "Give me time," she said--"give me time."He groaned, and said there was no time to lose. Otherwise he never would have urged her so.
For all that, she could not be drawn to a decision. She must think over such a step. Next morning, at the usual time, he came to know his fate.
But she did not appear. He waited an hour for her. She did not come. He began to rage and storm, and curse his folly for driving her so hard.
At last she came, and found him pale with anxiety, and looking utterly miserable. She told him she had passed a sleepless night, and her head had ached so in the morning she could not move.
