Father," she went on, with a change of tone, "I have
something to tell you. I am engaged to be married."
He looked at her curiously, and then said quietly--the Squire was
always quiet in any matter of real emergency--"Indeed, my dear! That
is a serious matter. However, speaking off-hand, I think that
notwithstanding the disparity of age, Quaritch----"
"No, no," she said, wincing visibly, "I am not engaged to Colonel
Quaritch, I am engaged to Mr. Cossey."
"Oh," he said, "oh, indeed! I thought from what I saw, that--that----"
At this moment the servant announced dinner.
"Well, never mind about it now, father," she said; "I am tired and
want my dinner. Mr. Cossey is coming to see you to-morrow, and we can
talk about it afterwards."
And though the Squire thought a good deal, he made no further allusion
to the subject that night.
CHAPTER XXV
THE SQUIRE GIVES HIS CONSENT
Edward Cossey did not come away from the scene of his engagement in a
very happy or triumphant tone of mind. Ida's bitter words stung like
whips, and he understood, and she clearly meant he should understand,
that it was only in consideration of the money advanced that she had
consented to become his wife. Now, however satisfactory it is to be
rich enough to purchase your heart's desire in this fashion, it is not
altogether soothing to the pride of a nineteenth-century man to be
continually haunted by the thought that he is a buyer in the market
and nothing but a buyer.
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