anked him
effusively.

"Yes," said Tommy, "I thought you set store by _that_, sir."

At the next moment the car was gone.

"Well, you _are_ a lucky girl," said Betsy Beauty; and Aunt Bridget
began to take credit to herself for all that had come to pass, and to
indicate the methods by which she meant to manage Castle Raa as soon as
ever I became mistress of it.

Thus in my youth, my helplessness, my ignorance, and my inexperience I
became engaged to the man who had been found and courted for me. If I
acquiesced, I had certainly not been consulted. My father had not
consulted me. My intended husband had not consulted me. Nobody consulted
me. I am not even sure that I thought anybody was under any obligation
to consult me. Love had not spoken to me, sex was still asleep in me,
and my marriage was arranged before my deeper nature knew what was being
done.

TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER

The next weeks were full of hurry, hubbub and perturbation. Our house
was turned upside down. Milliners, sewing-maids and dressmakers were
working day and night. Flowers, feathers and silk remnants were flowing
like sea-wrack into every room. Orders were given, orders were retracted
and given again, and then again retracted.

Such flying up and down stairs! Everybody so breathless! Everybody so
happy! Every face wearing a smile! Every tongue rippling with laughter!
The big grey mansion which used to seem so chill and cold felt for the
first time like a house of joy.

In the midst of these busy preparations I had no time to think. My
senses were excited. I was dazed, stunned, wrapped round by a kind of
warm air of hot-house happiness, and this condition of moral
intoxication increased as the passing of the days brought fresh
developments.

Our neighbours began to visit us. My father had been right about the
great people of the island. Though they had stood off so long, they
found their account in my good fortune, and as soon as my marriage was
announced they came in troops to offer their congratulations.

Never, according to Tommy the Mate, had the gravel of our carriage drive
been so rucked up by the pawing feet of high-bred horses. But their
owners were no less restless. It was almost pitiful to see their
shamefacedness as they entered our house for the first time, and to
watch the shifts they were put to in order to account for the fact that
they had never been there before.

Aunt Bridget's vanity was too much uplifted by the