It was much easier for Neil to form this plan than to be satisfied with
it, and during the few days which elapsed before he started for
Stoneleigh he was cross and irritable and even rude at times both to his
mother and Blanche, the latter of whom finally treated him with a cold
indifference which made him fear a little for the ten thousand.
"What if she should take the bits in her teeth and throw me overboard?"
he thought, and at the very last, he changed his tactics and devoted
himself to the heiress with an assiduity which left her little doubt of
his intentions. Still, to her he did not speak, though to his mother he
said, half irritably, as if it were something wrung from him against his
will:
"Don't trouble yourself. I intend to marry Blanche in my own good time;
but I will not be hurried, and am going to Stoneleigh first."
And he went to Stoneleigh and tried all the way there to think of Bessie
as she looked in the park, in the old faded gown with the disfiguring
puffs; tried to make himself believe that she had no manner, no style,
and would not pass for a great lady among people city bred; that she was
better suited to some quiet home such as Grey Jerrold might give her,
were he happy enough to win her.
Pages:
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385