"
After a few minutes more he drew her towards him, kissed away her tears,
and assured her that he knew she would be a good wife to him.
"Dearest Theobald," she exclaimed in answer, "you are an angel."
Theobald believed her, and in ten minutes more the happy couple alighted
at the inn at Newmarket.
Bravely did Christina go through her arduous task. Eagerly did she
beseech the landlady, in secret, not to keep her Theobald waiting longer
than was absolutely necessary.
"If you have any soup ready, you know, Mrs Barber, it might save ten
minutes, for we might have it while the fowl was browning."
See how necessity had nerved her! But in truth she had a splitting
headache, and would have given anything to have been alone.
The dinner was a success. A pint of sherry had warmed Theobald's heart,
and he began to hope that, after all, matters might still go well with
him. He had conquered in the first battle, and this gives great
prestige. How easy it had been too! Why had he never treated his
sisters in this way? He would do so next time he saw them; he might in
time be able to stand up to his brother John, or even his father. Thus
do we build castles in air when flushed with wine and conquest.
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