"A secret marriage! Mr. Brudenell! is that what you propose to my
sister?"
"Why not, Hannah?"
"Secret marriages are terrible things!"
"Disappointed affections, broken hearts, early graves, are more
terrible."
"Fudge!" was the word that rose to Hannah's lips, as she looked at the
young man; but when she turned to her sister she felt that his words
might be true.
"Besides, Hannah," he continued, "this will not be a secret marriage.
You cannot call that a secret which will be known to four persons--the
parson, you, Nora, and myself. I shall not even bind you or Nora to keep
the secret longer than you think it her interest to declare it. She
shall have the marriage certificate in her own keeping, and every legal
protection and defense; so that even if I should die suddenly--"
Nora gasped for breath.
--"she would be able to claim and establish her rights and position in
the world. Hannah, you must see that I mean to act honestly and
honorably," said the young man, in an earnest tone.
"I see that you do; but, Mr. Brudenell, it appears to me that the fatal
weakness of which you have already spoken to me--the 'propensity to
please'--is again leading you into error. You wish to save Nora, and you
wish to spare your mother; and to do both these things, you are
sacrificing--"
"What, Hannah?"
"Well--fair, plain, open, straight-forward, upright dealing, such as
should always exist between man and woman."
"Hannah, you are unjust to me! Am I not fair, plain, open,
straight-forward, upright, and all the rest of it in my dealing with
you?"
"With us, yes; but--"
"With my mother it is necessary to be cautious. It is true that she has
no right to oppose my marriage with Nora; but yet she would oppose it,
even to death! Therefore, to save trouble and secure peace, I would
marry my dear Nora quietly. Mystery, Hannah, is not necessarily guilt;
it is often wisdom and mercy. Do not object to a little harmless
mystery, that is besides to secure peace! Come, Hannah, what say you?"
"How long must this marriage, should it take place, be kept a secret?"
inquired Hannah uneasily.
"Not one hour longer than you and Nora think it necessary that it should
be declared! Still, I should beg your forbearance as long as possible.
Come, Hannah, your answer!"
"I must have time to reflect. I fear I should be doing very wrong to
consent to this marriage, and yet--and yet--. But I must take a night to
think of it! To-morrow, Mr. Brudenell, I will give you an answer!"