good things, the goodness of which was infinitely enhanced by the badness of her sister’s things.  She had been so greatly despised that the charm of despising again was irresistible.  And she was able to reconcile her cruelty to her conscience by telling herself that duty required her to show implacable resistance to such a marriage as this which her sister contemplated.  Therefore Georgiana dragged out another day, not in the least knowing what was to be her fate.

CHAPTER LXXIX — THE BREHGERT CORRESPONDENCE

Mr Longestaffe had brought his daughter down to Caversham on a Wednesday.  During the Thursday and Friday she had passed a very sad time, not knowing whether she was or was not engaged to marry Mr Brehgert.  Her father had declared to her that he would break off the match, and she believed that he had...