That young lady was leaning back in her great oak chair, in which she looked like the heroine of some sad and gorgeous romance of the old civil wars of England, and directing a gaze of contemplative and haughty curiosity upon the old lady, who was unconscious of the daring profanation.
'And pray what do you think of marriage, Lady Chelford?'
'What do I think of marriage?' repeated the dowager, throwing back her head and eyeing the beautiful heiress through her gold spectacles, with a stony surprise, for she was not accustomed to be catechised by young people. 'Marriage?--why 'tis a divine institution. What can the child mean?'
'Do you think, Lady Chelford, it may be safely contracted, solely to join two estates?' pursued the young lady.
'Do I think it may safely be contracted, solely to join two estates?' repeated the old lady, with a look and carriage that plainly showed how entirely she appreciated the amazing presumption of her interrogatrix.
'_Certainly_,' replied Lady Chelford; 'that is, of course, under proper conditions, and with a due sense of its sacred character and a--a--obligations.'
'The first of which is _love_,' continued Miss Brandon; 'the second _honour_--both involuntary; and the third _obedience_, which springs from them.'
Old Lady Chelford coughed, and then rallying, said--
'And pray, Lady Chelford, what do you think of Mr. Mark Wylder?' pursued Miss Dorcas.
'I don't see, Miss Brandon, that my thoughts upon that subject can concern anyone but myself,' retorted the old lady, severely, and from an awful altitude. 'And I may say, considering who I am--and my years--and the manner in which I am usually treated, I am a little surprised at the tone in which you are pleased to question me.'
These last terrible remarks totally failed to overawe the serene temerity of the grave beauty.
'I assumed, Lady Chelford, as you had interested yourself in me so far as to originate the idea of my engagement to Mr. Wylder, that you had considered these to me very important questions a little, and could give me satisfactory answers upon points on which my mind has been employed for some days; and, indeed, I think I've a right to ask that assistance of you.'
'You seem to forget, young lady, that there are times and places for such discussions; and that to Mr.--a--a--your visitor (a glance at me), it can't be very interesting to listen to this kind of--of--conversation, which is neither very entertaining, nor very _wise_.'