he weight
fell again upon her heart, she lost breath, and it was intolerable to
have to curtesy to Mrs James, and to answer the butcher's inquiry about
the meat that had been ordered. If these people would only go on with
their own business, and take no notice of her! Then, again, the thought
occurred, that she knew Philip better than any,--than even his own
family; and that, say what they might, he was all her own. In these
changes of mood, she had got through dinner; the dominant idea was then
that she must, by some means or other, obtain certainty. She thought of
Maria. Maria was likely to know the facts, from her constant
intercourse with the Rowlands, and besides, there was certainly a
something in Maria's mind in relation to Philip,--a keen insight, which
might be owing to the philosophical habit of her mind, or to something
else,--but which issued in information about him, which it was
surprising that she could obtain. She seldom spoke of him; but when she
did, it was wonderfully to the purpose. Margaret thought she could
learn from Maria, in a very simple and natural way, that which she so
much wished to know: and when she left the room after dinner, it was to
write the note which might bring certainty.

"Dear Friend,--I saw Dr Levitt this morning while I was out, and he
told me, with all possible assurance, that Mr Enderby is going to be
married very shortly to a young lady at Rome,--Miss Mary Bruce. Now,
this is true or it is not. If true, you are as well aware as we are
that we are entitled to have known it otherwise and earlier than by
common report. If not true, the rumour should not be allowed to
spread. If you know anything certainly, one way or the other, pray
tell us.

"Yours affectionately,

"Margaret Ibbotson."

The "we" and "us" were not quite honest; but Margaret meant to make them
as nearly so as possible by _ex-post-facto_ communication with her
brother and sister: a resolution so easily made, that it did not occur
to her how difficult it might be to execute. While her messenger was
gone, she wrought herself up to a resolution to bear the answer,
whatever it might be, with the same quietness with which she must bear
the whole of her future life, if Dr Levitt's news should prove to be
founded in fact. The door opening seemed to prick the nerves of her
ears: her heart heaved to her throat at the sight of the white paper:
yet it was with neatness that she broke t