'I like anything that makes Louis happy. I thought it would have
been delightful to have him married--one could be so much more at
Ormersfield, and Mary would be so nice; but as to their being over-
persuaded, and thinking themselves half wrong! why, they would never
be happy in their lives; and Louis would be always half-asleep or
half mad, to save himself the trouble of thinking. But he'll never
do it!'

On the Saturday morning Mary's healthy and vigorous spirit had quite
resumed its tone. The worst was over when she had inflicted the
stroke on Louis, and seen him ready to support instead of adding to
her distress. He found her pale and sorrowful, but calm, collected,
and ready for exertion. By tacit consent, they avoided all
discussion of the terms on which they were to stand. Greatly touched
by her consideration for him on the wedding-day, he would not torture
her with pleadings, and was only too grateful for every service that
he was allowed to render her without protest, as still her chief and
most natural dependence.

She did not scruple to allow him to assist her; she understood the
gratification to him, and it was only too sweet to her to be still
his object. She could trust him not to presume, his approval made
her almost happy; and yet it was hard that his very patience and
acquiescence should endear him so much as to render the parting so
much the more painful. The day was spent in business. He
facilitated much that would have been arduous for two solitary women,
and did little all day but go about for Mary, fulfilling the
commissions which her father had sent home; and though he did it with
a sore heart, it was still a privilege to be at work for Mary.