Brandon wisely let the last suggestion pass unnoticed.

"I am sure that I am right; you have glorious capacities for good, but
alas! corresponding possibilities for evil. It will eventually all
depend upon the man you marry. He can make out of you a perfect woman,
or the reverse." Again there was the surprised expression in Mary's
face, but Brandon's serious look disarmed her.

"I fear you are right, as to the reverse, at any rate; and the worst
of it is, I shall never be able to choose a man to help me, but shall
sooner or later be compelled to marry the creature who will pay the
greatest price."

"God forbid!" said Brandon reverently.

They were growing rather serious, so Mary turned the conversation
again into the laughing mood, and said, with a half sigh: "Oh! I hope
you are right about the possibilities for good, but you do not know.
Wait until you have seen more of me."

"I certainly hope I shall not have long to wait."

The surprised eyes again glanced quickly up to the serious face, but
the answer came: "That you shall not:--but here is the queen, and I
suppose we must have the benediction." Brandon understood her
hint--that the preaching was over,--and taking it for his dismissal,
playfully lifted his hands in imitation of the old Bishop of
Canterbury, and murmured the first line of the Latin benediction. Then
they both laughed and courtesied, and Brandon walked away.