Dunster could pass over it with a private
sneer, while taking all possible advantage of the tangible benefit it was
now in his power to accept.
Mr. Corbet's attachment to Ellinor had been formally disclosed to her
just before this time. He had left college, entered at the Middle
Temple, and was fagging away at law, and feeling success in his own
power; Ellinor was to "come out" at the next Hamley assemblies; and her
lover began to be jealous of the possible admirers her striking
appearance and piquant conversation might attract, and thought it a good
time to make the success of his suit certain by spoken words and
promises.
He needed not have alarmed himself even enough to make him take this
step, if he had been capable of understanding Ellinor's heart as fully as
he did her appearance and conversation. She never missed the absence of
formal words and promises. She considered herself as fully engaged to
him, as much pledged to marry him and no one else, before he had asked
the final question, as afterwards. She was rather surprised at the
necessity for those decisive words,
"Ellinor, dearest, will you--can you marry me?" and her reply was--given
with a deep blush I must record, and in a soft murmuring tone--
"Yes--oh, yes--I never thought of anything else."
"Then I may speak to your father, may not I, darling?"
"He knows; I am sure he knows; and he likes you so much.
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