Sir William, who
should know best, is clear upon this subject; and therefore, my dear
Lucy----"
"Madam," said Lucy, with unwonted energy, "urge me no farther; if this
unhappy engagement be restored, I have already said you shall dispose
of me as you will; till then I should commit a heavy sin in the sight
of God and man in doing what you require." "But, my love, if this man
remains obstinately silent----"
"He will NOT be silent," answered Lucy; "it is six weeks since I sent
him a double of my former letter by a sure hand."
"You have not--you could not--you durst not," said Lady Ashton, with
violence inconsistent with the tone she had intended to assume; but
instantly correcting herself, "My dearest Lucy," said she, in her
sweetest tone of expostulation, "how could you think of such a thing?"
"No matter," said Bucklaw; "I respect Miss Ashton for her sentiments,
and I only wish I had been her messenger myself."
"And pray how long, Miss Ashton," said her mother, ironically, "are
we to wait the return of your Pacolet--your fairy messenger--since our
humble couriers of flesh and blood could not be trusted in this matter?"
"I have numbered weeks, days, hours, and minutes," said Miss Ashton;
"within another week I shall have an answer, unless he is dead.
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