Sir Joseph had said, "My child! this is a matter of experience; love
will come when you are married." And Miss Lavinia had added, "Dear
Natalie, if you remembered your poor mother as I remember her, you would
know that your father's experience is to be relied on." In that way they
had put it to her; and she had hung her head and had given--all that
maiden modesty could be expected to give--a silent consent. "The
wedding-day was fixed for the first week in the New Year." ("No, Joseph;
not January--the New Year.") "And God bless you, Richard! and may your
married life be a long and happy one."
So the average ignorance of human nature, and the average belief in
conventional sentiment, complacently contemplated the sacrifice of one
more victim on the all-devouring altar of Marriage! So Sir Joseph and
his sister provided Launcelot Linzie with the one argument which he
wanted to convince Natalie: "Choose between making the misery of
your life by marrying _him_, and making the happiness of your life by
marrying _me._"
"When shall I see her?" asked Turlington, with Miss Lavinia (in tears
which did _her_ credit) in possession of one of his hands, and Sir
Joseph (in tears which did _him_ credit) in possession of the other.
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