I am not against
hasty marriages where a mutual flame is fanned by an adequate income.
My own was a love-match contracted in a hurry. There are plenty of
instances in the experience of every one, of short courtships and speedy
marriages, which have turned up trumps--I beg your pardon--which have
turned out well after all. But if you and my niece, Mr. Vanstone, are
to add one to the number of these eases, the usual preliminaries of
marriage among the higher classes must be hastened by some means. You
doubtless understand me as now referring to the subject of settlements."
"I'll take another teaspoonful of brandy," said Noel Vanstone, holding
out his glass with a trembling hand as the word "settlements" passed
Captain Wragge's lips.
"I'll take a teaspoonful with you," said the captain, nimbly dismounting
from the pedestal of his respectability, and sipping his brandy with
the highest relish. Noel Vanstone, after nervously following his host's
example, composed himself to meet the coming ordeal, with reclining
head and grasping hands, in the position familiarly associated to all
civilized humanity with a seat in a dentist's chair.
The captain put down his empty glass and got up again on his pedestal.
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