He would
have preferred one of his father's empty houses: But except at Vauxhall
Walk (which he supposed would be objected to), and at Aldborough (which
was of course out of the question) all the houses were let. He would
put himself in Mr. Bygrave's hands. Where had Mr. Bygrave spent his own
honeymoon? Given the British Islands to choose from, where would Mr.
Bygrave pitch his tent, on a careful review of all the circumstances?
At this point the bridegroom's questions suddenly came to an end,
and the bridegroom's face exhibited an expression of ungovernable
astonishment. His judicious friend, whose advice had been at his
disposal in every other emergency, suddenly turned round on him, in the
emergency of the honeymoon, and flatly declined discussing the subject.
"No!" said the captain, as Noel Vanstone opened his lips to plead for a
hearing, "you must really excuse me. My point of view in this matter is,
as usual, a peculiar one. For some time past I have been living in an
atmosphere of deception, to suit your convenience. That atmosphere, my
good sir, is getting close; my Moral Being requires ventilation. Settle
the choice of a locality with my niece, and leave me, at my particular
request, in total ignorance of the subject.
Pages:
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848