her own Joe: and on the other hand, she had from the first moment
nestled so entirely into the home that it would have seemed more
unnatural to be torn away from it than to become a part of it. As to
her being an extraordinary and very disadvantageous choice for him,
she simply knew nothing of the matter; she was used to passiveness as
to her own destiny, and now that she did indeed "belong to somebody"
she let those somebodies think and decide for her with the one
certainty that what Mr. Brownlow and his mother liked was sure to be
the truly right and happy thing.

So, instead of being alarmed and scrupulous, she was sweetly, shyly,
and yet confidingly gay and affectionate, enchanting both her
companions, but revealing by her naive questions and remarks such
utter ignorance of all matters of common life that Mrs. Brownlow had
no scruples in not stirring the question, that had never occurred to
her son or his little betrothed, namely, her own retirement.
Caroline needed a mother far too much for her to be spared.

What was to be done about Miss Heath? It was due to her for Miss
Allen to offer to return till her place could be supplied, Mrs.
Brownlow said—-but that was only to tease the lovers—-for a quarter,
at which Joe made a snarling howl, whereat Carey ventured to laugh at
him, and say she should come home for every Sunday, as Miss
Pinniwinks, the senior governess, did.

"Come home,-—it is enough to say that," she added.

Mrs. Brownlow undertook to negotiate the matter, her son saying
privately—-