Mrs Dale, when she was left alone, began to turn over
the question in her mind in a much fuller manner than
the squire’s presence had as yet made possible
for her. Would not such a marriage as this be
for them all the happiest domestic arrangement which
circumstances could afford? Her daughter would
have no fortune, but here would be prepared for her
all the comforts which fortune can give. She
would be received into her uncle’s house, not
as some penniless, portionless bride whom Bernard
might have married and brought home, but as the wife
whom of all others Bernard’s friends had thought
desirable for him. And then, as regarded Mrs Dale
herself, there would be nothing in such a marriage
which would not be delightful to her. It would
give a realisation to all her dreams of future happiness.
But, as she said to herself over and over again, all
that must go for nothing. It must be for Bell,
and for her only, to answer Bernard’s question.
In her mind there was something sacred in that idea
of love. She would regard her daughter almost
as a castaway if she were to marry any man without
absolutely loving him,—loving him as Lily
loved her lover, with all her heart and all her strength.
With such a conviction as this strong upon her, she
felt that she could not say much to Bell that would
be of any service.
CHAPTER XX
Dr Crofts
If there was anything in the world as to which Isabella
Dale was quite certain, it was this—that
she was not in love with Dr Crofts. As to being
in love with her cousin Bernard, she had never had
occasion to ask herself any question on that head.
She liked him very well, but she had never thought
of marrying him; and now, when he made his proposal,
she could not bring herself to think of it. But
as regards Dr Crofts, she had thought of it, and had
make up her mind—in the manner above described.
It may be said that she could not have been justified
in discussing the matter even within her own bosom,
unless authorised to do so by Dr Crofts himself.
Let it then be considered that Dr Crofts had given
her some such authority. This may be done in more
ways than one; and Miss Dale could not have found
herself asking herself questions about him, unless
there had been fitting occasion for her to do so.
The profession of a medical man in a small provincial
town is not often one which gives to its owner in
early life a large income. Perhaps in no career
has a man to work harder for what he earns, or to
do more work without earning anything. It has
sometimes seemed to me as though the young doctors
and the old doctors had agreed to divide between them
the different results of their profession,—the
young doctors doing all the work and the old doctors
taking all the money. If this be so it may account
for that appearance of premature gravity which is
borne by so many of the medical profession. Under
such an arrangement a man may be excused for a desire
to put away childish things very early in life.
Copyrights
The Small House at Allington from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
