'We shall not be rich—' began the doctor.
'I hate to be rich,' said Bell. 'I hate even to talk about it. I don't think it quite manly even to think about it; and I'm sure it isn't womanly.'
'Bell was always a fanatic in praise of poverty,' said Mrs Dale.
'No; I'm no fanatic. I'm very fond of money earned. I would like to earn some myself if I knew how.'
'Let her go out and visit the lady patients,' said Lily. 'They do in America.'
Then they all went into the parlour and sat round the fire talking as though they were already one family. The proceeding, considering the nature of it,—that a young lady, acknowledged to be of great beauty and known to be of good birth, had on the occasion been asked and given in marriage,—was carried on after a somewhat humdrum fashion, and in a manner that must be called commonplace. How different had it been when Crosbie had made his offer! Lily for the time had been raised to a pinnacle,—a pinnacle which might be dangerous, but which was, at any rate, lofty. With what a pretty speech had Crosbie been greeted! How it had been felt by all concerned that the fortunes of the Small House were in the ascendant,—felt, indeed, with some trepidation, but still with much inward triumph. How great had been the occasion, forcing Lily almost to lose herself in wonderment at what had occurred! There was no great occasion now, and no wonderment. No one, unless it was Crofts, felt very triumphant. But they were all very happy, and were sure that there was safety in their happiness. It was but the other day that one of them had been thrown rudely to the ground through the treachery of a lover, but yet none of them feared treachery from this lover. Bell was as sure of her lot in life as though she were already being taken home to her modest house in Guestwick. Mrs Dale already looked upon the man as her son, and the party of four as they sat round the fire grouped themselves as though they already formed one family.
But Bell was not seated next to her lover. Lily, when she had once accepted Crosbie, seemed to think that she could never be too near to him. She had been in no wise ashamed of her love, and had shown it constantly by some little caressing motion of her hand, leaning on his arm, looking into his face, as though she were continually desirous of some palpable assurance of his presence. It was not so at all with Bell. She was happy in loving and in being loved, but she required no overt testimonies of affection. I do not think it would have made her unhappy if some sudden need had required that Crofts should go to India and back before they were married. The thing was settled, and that was enough for her. But, on the other hand, when he spoke of the expediency of an immediate marriage, she raised no difficulty. As her mother was about to go into a new residence, it might be as well that that residence should be fitted to the wants of two persons instead of three. So they talked about chairs and tables, carpets and kitchens, in a most unromantic, homely, useful manner! A considerable portion of the furniture in the house they were now about to leave belonged to the squire,—or to the house rather, as they were in the habit of saying. The older and more solid things,—articles of household stuff that stand the wear of half a century,—had been in the Small House when they came to it. There was, therefore, a question of buying new furniture for a house in Guestwick,—a question not devoid of importance to the possessor of so moderate an income as that owned by Mrs Dale. In the first month or two they were to live in lodgings, and their goods were to be stored in some friendly warehouse. Under such circumstances would it not be well that Bell's marriage should be so arranged that the lodging question might not be in any degree complicated by her necessities? This was the last suggestion made by Dr Crofts, induced no doubt by the great encouragement he had received.
'That would be hardly possible,' said Mrs Dale. 'It only wants three weeks;—and with the house in such a condition!'
'James is joking,' said Bell.
'I was not joking at all,' said the doctor.
'Why not send for Mr Boyce, and carry her off at once on a pillion behind you?' said Lily. 'It's just the sort of thing for primitive people to do, like you and Bell. All the same, Bell, I do wish you could have been married from this house.'
'I don't think it will make much difference,' said Bell.
'Only if you would have waited till summer we would have had such a nice party on the lawn. It sounds so ugly, being married from lodgings; doesn't it, mamma?'
'It doesn't sound at all ugly to me,' said Bell.
'I shall always call you Dame Commonplace when you're married,' said Lily.
Then they had tea, and after tea Dr Crofts got on his horse and rode back to Guestwick.
'Now may I talk about him?' said Lily, as soon as the door was closed behind his back.
'No; you may not.'
