ilmore match had been arranged. The anxiety as to Mary's future
life was at an end, and the theory of the elders concerned with
her welfare was to be carried out. Then there came a short note,
proclaiming her return home, and simply telling as a fact almost
indifferent,--in a single line,--that all the trouble hitherto taken
as to her own disposition had entirely been thrown away. "Everything
has been broken off between me and Mr. Gilmore." It was a cruel and a
heartrending postscript!

Poor Miss Marrable knew very well that she was armed with no parental
authority. She could hold her theory, and could advise; but she could
do no more. She could not even scold. And there had been some qualm
of conscience on her part as to Walter Marrable, now that Walter
Marrable had been taken in hand and made much of by the baronet,--and
now, also, that poor Gregory had been removed from the path. No doubt
she, Aunt Sarah, had done all in her power to aid the difficulties
which had separated the two cousins;--and while she thought that the
Gilmore match had been the consequence of such aiding on her part,
she was happy enough in reflecting upon what she had done. Old Sir
Gregory would not have taken Walter by the hand unless Walter had
been free to marry Edith Brownlow; and though she could not quite
resolve that the death of the younger Gregory had been part of the
family arrangement due to the happy policy of the elder Marrables
generally, still she was quite sure that Walter's present position
at Dunripple had come entirely from the favour with which he had
regarded the baronet's wishes as to Edith. Mary was provided for with
the Squire, who was in immediate possession; and Walter with his
bride would become as it were the eldest son of Dunripple. It was
all as comfortable as could be till there came this unfortunate
postscript.

The letter reached her on Friday, and on Saturday Mary arrived. Miss
Marrable determined that she would not complain. As regarded her own
comfort it was doubtless all for the best. But old women are never
selfish in regard to the marriage of young women. That the young
women belonging to them should be settled,--and thus got rid of,--is
no doubt the great desire; but, whether the old woman be herself
married or a spinster, the desire is founded on an adamantine
confidence that marriage is the most proper and the happiest thing
for the young woman. The belief is so thorough that the woman would
cease to