Perhaps it might be better. Should she take
him at his word there would be no going back from it. But Lord George knew
that he had proposed before. Lord George had learned this from Mrs.
Carbuncle, and had shown that he knew it. And then, too, he had made up
his mind about it. He wanted her, and he meant to have her. "It requires
no more thinking with me, Lucinda. I'm not a man who does things without
thinking; and when I have thought I don't want to think again. There's my
hand--will you have it?"
"I will," said Lucinda, putting her hand into his. He no sooner felt her
assurance than his mind misgave him that he had been precipitate, that he
had been rash, and that she had taken advantage of him. After all, how
many things are there in the world more precious than a handsome girl. And
she had never told him that she loved him.
"I suppose you love me?" he asked.
"H'sh; here they all are." The hand was withdrawn, but not before both
Mrs. Carbuncle and Lady Eustace had seen it.
Mrs. Carbuncle, in her great anxiety, bided her time, keeping close to her
niece. Perhaps she felt that if the two were engaged, it might be well to
keep the lovers separated for a while, lest they should quarrel before the
engagement should have been so confirmed by the authority of friends as to
be beyond the power of easy annihilation.
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