he could
not well speak. He was anything but ashamed of his attachment to
Margaret; but he could not open his lips upon it.

"I trust there is the better chance of her being happy," continued Mr
Grey, "that she is going to marry a man of somewhat less enthusiasm than
her sister has chosen, Mr Enderby."

"Do not speak of that, Mr Grey. We might not agree. I can only say
that I am so fully sensible of my immeasurable inferiority to Hope, I
know I am hardly worthy to appreciate him... I cannot give you an idea
of my sense of his superiority... And to hear him set below me...

"Do not mistake me, my dear friend. No one can value Mr Hope more than
I do, as indeed I have every reason to do. Only you see the effects of
that unfortunate vote of his. That is just what I mean, now. If you
had been in his place, I rather think you would have done what was
prudent--you would not have run into anything so useless as giving that
vote, when there was not another person in Deerbrook to vote the same
way. You would not, Enderby."

"I trust I should, if I had had Margaret to keep me up to my duty."

"Well, well; I may be wrong; but it vexes me to see anxiety and sorrow
in my cousin Hester's beautiful face; and that is the truth of it. But,
indeed, her husband is a fine fellow, and I respect him from the bottom
of my soul; and it makes me extremely happy to hear that Margaret has
met with one whom I can as cordially approve. You have my hearty good
wishes, I assure you. Now, when may I see my cousin, to wish her joy?
I must go home now, and let my family know about it, you say?"

"If you please; for I must tell Margaret how kindly you have received
what I had to communicate. She will be waiting anxiously."

"Why, she could not doubt my good will, surely? How should I be
otherwise than pleased? Nor have I any doubt of my wife's feeling. You
stand very high in her good graces, Enderby, I can assure you. I was
not fully aware of this myself, till I saw how vexed she was at hearing
that you were engaged to that lady abroad. She never could make out
what Margaret was feeling about that; but she used to say to me when we
were by ourselves, that if Margaret was not hurt and angry, she was.
But I suppose the little gipsy was laughing at us and all Deerbrook all
the time; though she kept her gravity wonderfully."

Philip was not disposed to throw any light on this part of the affair;
and the gentlemen parted at the turns