Fairlie suggested, in his most amiable manner, that
I should open the necessary negotiations to-day. Feeling that
resistance was useless, unless I could first obtain Laura's
authority to make it, I consented to speak to her, but declared,
at the same time, that I would on no consideration undertake to
gain her consent to Sir Percival's wishes. Mr. Fairlie
complimented me on my "excellent conscience," much as he would
have complimented me, if he had been out walking, on my "excellent
constitution," and seemed perfectly satisfied, so far, with having
simply shifted one more family responsibility from his own
shoulders to mine.
This morning I spoke to Laura as I had promised. The composure--I
may almost say, the insensibility--which she has so strangely and
so resolutely maintained ever since Sir Percival left us, was not
proof against the shock of the news I had to tell her. She turned
pale and trembled violently.
"Not so soon!" she pleaded. "Oh, Marian, not so soon!"
The slightest hint she could give was enough for me. I rose to
leave the room, and fight her battle for her at once with Mr.
Fairlie.
Just as my hand was on the door, she caught fast hold of my dress
and stopped me.
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