Tompsett-King. (Philippa had declined
to come.) He behaved with great discretion, and so continued. After a week
or ten days of courtship, she could hardly believe that their relations
had ever been interrupted. His reliance upon her was absolute, his
confidence no less so. He babbled of himself and his concerns in the old
vein of mocking soliloquy, careless whether she heard him or not. Now that
he had her promise, he seemed in no hurry for possession. His kisses were
fraternal, his embraces confined to a hand on her shoulder, an arm lightly
about her waist. She was inordinately thankful to him, and by a queer
freak of the mind, poured all her gratitude into Senhouse. She told
herself that but for him she would never have brought herself to her duty;
but for him, therefore, would never have discovered how little she had to
fear. Here was a crown for her "dear obsequious head": shutting her eyes
tightly, she thought that she could feel his fingers putting it on,
smoothing out her hair so that the circlet should fit closely. Night after
night she knelt to receive it. It came as a result of prayer.
The marriage-announcement, got into the paper by Mrs. Percival, was
accepted for what it was worth.
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