said Mrs. Thorne. "And I am to
tell nobody."

"I don't see any good in publishing the thing in High Street just at
present." Then Mrs. Thorne understood that she need not treat the
communication as a strict secret. "In fact, I don't see why it should
be kept specially in the dark. Francis has not enjoined anything like
secrecy." This was the first time that she had allowed herself the
use of the Baronet's name without the prefix. "When it is to be I
have not as yet even begun to think. Of course he is in a hurry. Men,
I believe, generally are. But in this case there may be some reasons
for delay. Arrangements as to the family property must be made, and
Castle Gerald must be prepared for our reception. I don't suppose we
can be married just off hand, like some happier folks." Mrs. Thorne
did not know whether to take this to herself, as she had been married
herself at last rather in a scramble, or whether it was intended to
apply to poor Cecilia, whose husband, though he was in comfortable
circumstances, cannot be said to have possessed family property.
"And now, dear;" continued Miss Altifiorla, "what am I to do for
bridesmaids? You three have all been married before me. There are
his two unmarried sisters of course." Mrs. Thorne was aware that her
uncle had absolutely quarrelled with his mother and sisters, and had
not spoken to them for years. "I suppose that it will come off in the
cathedral, and that your father will perform the ceremony. I don't
know, indeed, whether Francis might not wish to have the Bishop."
Mrs. Thorne was aware that the Bishop, who was a strict man, would
not touch Sir Francis Geraldine with a pair of tongs. "But all these
things will shake themselves down comfortably no doubt. In the
meantime I am in a twitter of ecstatic happiness. You, who have gone
through it all, will quite understand what I mean. It seems that as
a lover he is the most exigeant of gentlemen. He requires constant
writing to, and woe betide me if I do not obey his behests. However,
I do not complain, and must confess that I am at the present moment
the most happy of young women."

Mrs. Thorne of course expressed her congratulations, and took her
departure without having committed herself to a word as to the other
inhabitants of the Deanery. But when she got to her father's house,
where she was for the present staying, she in truth startled them all
by the news. The Dean had just come into the drawing-room to have his
aft