The engagement created not a little stir, and many and various were the comments.
Mr. Curtis composed a pretty speech, for the edification of his patients, to the effect that had he been some forty years younger, when he had had the honour of meeting with Miss Emma, his bachelorhood would have been seriously imperilled.
It is said that when this was reported to Mr. Howard, he vowed he would have imperilled it still further for him.
Mrs. Blake was rejoiced at the news, but it must be confessed that it would be scarcely prudent to record the observations of Charles, who thirsted for his uncle's blood for fully three days after.
Jane still protested that Emma was a fool to have refused a title.
Augusta enquired if she might not be married on the same day?
Lady Edward Sothern's comment was perhaps characteristic—
"There must be something singularly wanting in Arthur Howard to marry a woman of the lower orders."
In a remote room of the Castle Lady Osborne sat, with her head bowed on her hands. No one could have condemned her more severely than she condemned herself. Having missed all hope of romance in her youth, she had endeavoured to secure some measure of it when it was no longer reasonable to expect it; and now she felt that her punishment was almost greater than she well might bear—standing alone, as the slow years went by.