“Must I then depart without hearing my fate? But I would not distress Miss Heckfield on any consideration, and I had rather pass some hours of suspense and wretchedness myself than that she should feel one moment’s annoyance. I trust she will allow me to prove by my future life that such are my sentiments.” He took her unresisting hand, and pressing it between his own with an air of gallantry, he took his departure with very little doubt or suspense as to the result of the family colloquy. But he wished not only to be accepted, but to be preferred. He was himself totally incapable of again feeling the passion of love, if indeed any of the _liaisons_ and flirtations in which he had been engaged deserved such a name; but he wished to excite it, and it was to him an amusing and a gratifying study, to watch the flutter and the trepidations of the young thing who was apparently now experiencing them for the first time. As soon as he was fairly out of sight, Lucy burst into tears, and threw herself upon her mother’s shoulder, saying, “Oh, mamma, I am as good as married!” “Well, my love, and do you wish to live single all your life?” “O no, mamma!” “And do you dislike Lord Montreville?” “O no, mamma!” “You seemed to me very uneasy and restless when he went away without proposing.” “Yes, mamma, so I was, certainly.” “And you looked very happy when he called just now. Were you not glad to see him?” “Yes, mamma, I certainly was.” “Well, my dear, if you were sorry he went away without proposing, you must be glad he has come back, and has proposed.” “Yes, I suppose I am, but I do not feel as if I was.” “Do you wish me, then, to refuse him? I would never force any girl’s inclinations, as I have always told you, and I am ready to take the whole thing upon myself if you please; for really, after the encouragement you have given him, I do not see how you can consistently say he is not agreeable to you.” “Have I encouraged him so very much?” “I do not know, my love; but you allowed him to take your hand just now, and you always appeared to have neither eyes nor ears for any one else when he was present.” “He always had so much the most to say.” “Well, you know best: I can say no more than that if you dislike him, I am ready to refuse him for you. Do you wish me to do so?” “Oh, no! not that——” “Then you wish me to accept him, in your name?” “Oh, not quite that, mamma.” “My dear, girls must say Yes or No. As I have always told you, I will not put any force on your inclinations.” Nothing persuades people so much, as saying you would not persuade them,—nothing constrains them so much, as saying you would put no constraint upon them. This Mrs. Heckfield felt from female tact. It was from intuition, not by design, that she used these expressions, while at the same time she thereby re-assured herself that she was not hurrying Lucy into a worldly marriage.