"
"I am dressed," said Lucinda.
"But, dear Lucinda, everybody will be waiting for you," said Lizzie.
"Let them wait, till they're tired. If Aunt Jane doesn't choose to send,
it is not my fault. I sha'n't go out of this room to-day unless I am
carried out. Do you want to hear that I have murdered the man?"
They brought her tea, and endeavoured to induce her to eat and drink. She
would take the tea, she said, if they would promise to send to put the
people off. Mrs. Carbuncle so far gave way as to undertake to do so, if
she would name the next day, or the day following, for the wedding. But on
hearing this she arose almost in a majesty of wrath. Neither on this day,
nor on the next, nor on any following day, would she yield herself to the
wretch whom they had endeavoured to force upon her.
"She must do it, you know," said Mrs. Carbuncle, turning to Lizzie.
"You'll see if I must," said Lucinda, sitting square at the table with her
eyes firmly fixed upon the book.
Then came up the servant to say that the four bridesmaids were all
assembled in the drawing-room. When she heard this, even Mrs. Carbuncle
gave way, and threw herself upon the bed and wept.
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