Love stories; Nobility -- Great Britain -- Fiction; Switzerland -- Fiction
Thus, and in these few words, although she never became altogether
orthodox, or took quite the same view of such mysteries as did Godfrey,
Isobel made her great recantation, for which probably there would never
have been any need had she been born in different surroundings and
found some other spiritual guide in youth than Mr. Knight. As the
cruelties and the narrow bitterness of the world had bred unfaith in
her, so did supreme love breed faith, if of an unusual sort, since she
learned that without the faith her love must die, and the love she knew
to be immortal. Therefore the existence of that living love presupposed
all the rest, and convinced her, which in one of her obstinate nature
nothing else could possibly have done, no, not if she had seen a
miracle. Also this love of hers was so profound and beautiful that she
felt its true origin and ultimate home must be elsewhere than on the
earth.
That was why she consented to be married in church, somewhat to
Godfrey’s surprise.
In due course, having practically recovered his health, Godfrey appeared
before a Board in London which passed him as fit for service, but gave
him a month’s leave. With this document he returned to Hawk’s Hall,
and there showed it to Isobel.
“And when the month is up?” she asked, looking at him.
“Then I suppose I shall have to join my regiment, unless they send me
somewhere else.”
“A month is a very short time,” she went on, still looking at him
and turning a little pale.
“Yes, dear, but lots can happen in it, as we found out in France. For
instance,” he added, with a little hesitation, “we can get married,
that is, if you wish.”
“You know very well, Godfrey, that I have wished it for quite ten
years.”
“And you know very well, Isobel, that I have wished it—well, ever
since I understood what marriage was. How about to-morrow?” he
exclaimed, after a pause.
She laughed, and shook her head.
“I believe, Godfrey, that some sort of license is necessary, and it is
past post time. Also it would look scarcely decent; all these people
would laugh at us. Also, as there is a good deal of property concerned,
I must make some arrangements.”
“What arrangements?” he asked.
She laughed again. “That is my affair; you know I am a great supporter
of Woman’s Rights.”
“Oh! I see,” he replied vaguely, “to keep it all free from
the husband’s control, &c.”
“Yes, Godfrey, that’s it. What a business head you have. You should
join the shipping firm after the war.”
Then they settled to be married on that day week, after which Isobel
suggested that he should take up his abode at the Abbey House, where
the clergyman, a bachelor, would be very glad to have him as a guest.
When Godfrey inquired why, she replied blandly because his room was
wanted for another patient, he being now cured, and that therefore he
had no right to stop there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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