Mrs. Carbuncle had undertaken the driving of Lucinda, and had
been not altogether unsuccessful. The thing so necessary to be done was
now effected. Her niece was engaged to a man with a title, to a man
reported to have a fortune, to a man of family, and a man of the world.
Now that the engagement was made, the girl could not go back from it, and
it was for Mrs. Carbuncle to see that neither should Sir Griffin go back.
Her first steps must be taken at once. The engagement should be made known
to all the party, and should be recognised by some word spoken between
herself and the lover. The word between herself and the lover must be the
first thing. She herself, personally, was not very fond of Sir Griffin;
but on such an occasion as this she could smile and endure the bear. Sir
Griffin was a bear--but so also was Lucinda. "The rabbits and hares All go
in pairs; And likewise the bears In couples agree." Mrs. Carbuncle
consoled herself with the song, and assured herself that it would all come
right. No doubt the she bears were not as civil to the he-bears as the
turtle doves are to each other. It was perhaps her misfortune that her
niece was not a turtle dove; but, such as she was, the best had been done
for her.
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