Her aunt was so much absorbed in asking Mr. Henry Lennox--who hadnot been able to come to dinner--all sorts of questions about his brotherthe bridegroom, his sister the bridesmaid (coming with the Captainfrom Scotland for the occasion), and various other members of theLennox family, that Margaret saw she was no more wanted as shawl-bearer, and devoted herself to the amusement of the other visitors,whom her aunt had for the moment forgotten. Almost immediately,Edith came in from the back drawing-room, winking and blinking hereyes at the stronger light, shaking back her slightly-ruffled curls, andaltogether looking like the Sleeping Beauty just startled from herdreams. Even in her slumber she had instinctively felt that a Lennoxwas worth rousing herself for; and she had a multitude of questions toask about dear Janet, the future, unseen sister-in-law, for whom sheprofessed so much. affection, that if Margaret had not been very proudshe might have almost felt jealous of the mushroom rival. As Margaretsank rather more into the background on her aunt"s joining theconversation, she saw Henry Lennox directing his look towards avacant seat near her; and she knew perfectly well that as soon as Edithreleased him from her questioning, he would take possession of thatchair. She had not been quite sure, from her aunt"s rather confusedaccount of his engagements, whether he would come that night; it wasalmost a surprise td see him; and now she was sure of a pleasantevening. He liked and disliked pretty nearly the same things that shedid. Margaret"s face was lightened up into an honest, open brightness.
By-and-by he came. She received him with a smile which had not atinge of shyness or self-consciousness in it.
"Well, I suppose you are all in the depths of business--ladies" business, Imean. Very different to my business, which is the real true lawbusiness. Playing with shawls is very different work to drawing upsettlements.
"Ah, I knew how you would be amused to find us all so occupied inadmiring finery. But really Indian shawls are very perfect things of theirkind."
"I have no doubt they are. Their prices are very perfect, too. Nothingwanting."
The gentlemen came dropping in one by one, and the buzz and noisedeepened in tone.
"This is your last dinner-party, is it not? There are no more beforeThursday?"
"No. I think after this evening we shall feel at rest, which I am sure Ihave not done for many weeks; at least, that kind of rest when the handshave nothing more to do, and all the arrangements are complete for anevent which must occupy one"s head and heart. I shall be glad to havetime to think, and I am sure Edith will."
"I am not so sure about her; but I can fancy that you will. whenever Ihave seen you lately, you have been carried away by a whirlwind ofsome other person"s making."
"Yes," said Margaret, rather sadly, remembering the never-endingcommotion about trifles that had been going on for more than a monthpast: "I wonder if a marriage must always be preceded by what you calla whirlwind, or whether in some cases there might not rather be a calmand peaceful time just before it."
"Cinderella"s godmother ordering the trousseau, the wedding-breakfast,writing the notes of invitation, for instance," said Mr. Lennox, laughing.
"But are all these quite necessary troubles?" asked Margaret, looking upstraight at him for an answer. A sense of indescribable weariness of allthe arrangements for a pretty effect, in which Edith had been busied assupreme authority for the last six weeks, oppressed her just now; andshe really wanted some one to help her to a few pleasant, quiet ideasconnected with a marriage.
"Oh, of course," he replied with a change to gravity in his tone. "Thereare forms and ceremonies to be gone through, not so much to satisfyoneself, as to stop the world"s mouth, without which stoppage therewould be very little satisfaction in life. But how would you have awedding arranged?"
"Oh, I have never thought much about it; only I should like it to be avery fine summer morning; and I should like to walk to church throughthe shade of trees; and not to have so many bridesmaids, and to have nowedding-breakfast. I dare say I am resolving against the very things thathave given me the most trouble just now."
"No, I don"t think you are. The idea of stately simplicity accords wellwith your character."
Margaret did not quite like this speech; she winced away from it more,from remembering former occasions on which he had tried to lead herinto a discussion (in which he took the complimentary part) about herown character and ways of going on. She cut his speech rather short bysaying:
"It is natural for me to think of Helstone church, and the walk to it,rather than of driving up to a London church in the middle of a pavedstreet."
"Tell me about Helstone. You have never described it to me. I shouldlike to have some idea of the place you will be living in, when ninety-six Harley Street will be looking dingy and dirty, and dull, and shut up.
Is Helstone a village, or a town, in the first place?"
"Oh, only a hamlet; I don"t think I could call it a village at all. There isthe church and a few houses near it on the green--cottages, rather--withroses growing all over them."
"And flowering all the year round, especially at Christmas--make yourpicture complete," said he.
"No," replied Margaret, somewhat annoyed, "I am not making a picture. Iam trying to describe Helstone as it really is. You should not have saidthat."
"I am penitent," he answered. "Only it really sounded like a village in atale rather than in real life."