"You mean, then, to say that you disapprove of it?" said Mary, almost sternly.
"I am not speaking of wisdom. Of course, Mr. Gilmore is very much richer, and all that."
"You know, Mary, that I would not counsel you to marry a man because he was rich."
"That is what you mean when you tell me I am not wise. I tried it,--with all the power of thought and calculation that I could give to it, and I found that I could not marry Mr. Gilmore."
"You mean that Walter is so poor, that he never should be allowed to marry."
"But I do, Aunt Sarah. I care more about him than all the world beside. I had to think for him."
"Hardly a minute--and yet it was sufficient." Then she paused, waiting for her aunt; but it seemed that her aunt had nothing further to say. "Well," continued Mary, "if it must be so, it must. If you cannot wish me joy--"
"Dearest, you know well enough that I wish you all happiness."
"This is my happiness." It seemed to the bewildered old lady that the whole nature of the girl was altered. Mary was speaking now as might have spoken some enthusiastic young female who had at last succeeded in obtaining for herself the possession,--more or less permanent,--of a young man, after having fed her imagination on novels for the last five years; whereas Mary Lowther had hitherto, in all moods of her life, been completely opposite to such feminine ways and doings. "Very well," continued Mary; "we will say nothing more about it at present. I am greatly grieved that I have incurred your displeasure; but I cannot wish it otherwise."
"Walter is to be up after lunch, and I will only ask that he may not be received with black looks. If it must be visited as a sin, let it be visited on me."
"If you knew, Aunt Sarah, how I have longed during the night for your kind voice,--for your sympathy and approval!"
Aunt Sarah paused again for a moment, and then went down to her domestic duties without another word.
In the afternoon Walter came, but Aunt Sarah did not see him. When Mary went to her the old lady declared that, for the present, it would be better so. "I do not know what to say to him at present. I must think of it, and speak to his uncle, and try to find out what had best be done."
She was sitting as she said this up in her own room, without even a book in her hand; in very truth, passing an hour in an endeavour to decide what, in the present emergency, she ought to say or do. Mary stooped over her and kissed her, and the aunt returned her niece's caresses.