CHAPTER LXIX
"I CANNOT DO IT"
The Saturday and the Sunday Lizzie passed in outward tranquillity, though
doubtless her mind was greatly disturbed. She said nothing of what had
passed between her and Major Mackintosh, explaining that his visit had
been made solely with the object of informing her that Mr. Benjamin was to
be sent home from Vienna, but that the diamonds were gone forever. She
had, as she declared to herself, agreed with Major Mackintosh that she
would not go to Mr. Camperdown till the Tuesday--justifying her delay by
her solicitude in reference to Miss Roanoke's marriage; and therefore
these two days were her own. After them would come a totally altered phase
of existence. All the world would know the history of the diamonds--cousin
Frank, and Lord Fawn, and John Eustace, and Mrs. Carbuncle, and the
Bobsborough people, and Lady Glencora, and that old vulturess, her aunt,
the Countess of Linlithgow. It must come now--but she had two days in
which she could be quiet and think of her position. She would, she
thought, send one of her letters to Lord Fawn before she went to Mr.
Camperdown--but which should she send? Or should she write a third
explaining the whole matter in sweetly piteous feminine terms, and
swearing that the only remaining feeling in her bosom was a devoted
affection to the man who had now twice promised to be her husband?
In the mean time the preparations for the great marriage went on.
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