consideration, you know."

"Oh, dear, ma'am! to be sure it does: but I did not mean to be
impertinent in asking, I am sure. Only you mentioned making
wedding-clothes, Miss Grey."

"I did not mean that we have exactly set about all that yet. I was only
looking forward to it."

"And very right too, ma'am. My poor dear Howell used to say so to me,
every time he found so much difficulty in inducing me to listen to
future projects--about the happy day, you know, ma'am. He was always
for looking forward upon principle, dear soul! as you say, ma'am. That
is the very brown, ma'am--no doubt of it. Only two skeins, ma'am?"

Here ended Sophia's pleasures in this kind. She could not summon
courage to face Mrs Plumstead, without knowing what was the mood of the
day; and the half-door of the little stationery shop was closed, and no
face was visible within. All her father's household, and all whom she
had told, were as busy as herself; so that by the time she walked down
the street again, nobody remained to be informed. She could only go
home, put off her bonnet, and sit with her mother, watching who would
call, and planning the external arrangements which constitute the whole
interest of a wedding to narrow minds and apathetic hearts.

No one in Deerbrook enjoyed the news more than Mr Enderby. When he
evaded Sophia in the street, he little knew what pleasure she had it in
her power to afford him. It was only deferred for a few minutes,
however; for, on his returning his little nephew to mamma's side, he
found his mother and sister talking the matter over. Mrs Grey's visit
to Mrs Enderby had been unusually short, as she could not, on so busy a
day, spare much time to one person. The moment she was gone, the old
lady rang for her calash and shawl, and prepared to cross the way,
telling the news meanwhile to her maid Phoebe. It was a disappointment
to find Mrs Rowland already informed: but then came Philip, ignorant
and unconscious as could be desired.

The extreme graciousness of his sister guided him in his guess when he
was desired to say who was going to be married; but there was a
trembling heart beneath his light speech. It was more difficult to
disguise his joy when he heard the truth. He carried it off by romping
with the child, who owed several rides from corner to corner of the room
to the fact that Mr Hope was going to be married to Hester.

"I am delighted to see Philip take it in this way," observe