The wedding would not take place immediately,
William said, and it was just as well to keep the matter to themselves
until plans were a little more definite.
The members of the family were told at once. Aunt Hannah said "Oh, my
grief and conscience!" three times, and made matters scarcely better by
adding apologetically: "Oh, of course it's all right, it's all right,
only--" She did not finish her sentence, and William, who had told her
the news, did not know whether he would have been more or less pleased
if she had finished it.
Cyril received the information moodily, and lapsed at once into a fit
of abstraction from which he roused himself hardly enough to offer
perfunctory congratulations and best wishes.
Billy was a little puzzled at Cyril's behavior. She had been sure for
some time that Cyril had ceased to care specially for her, even if
he ever did fancy that he loved her. She had hoped to keep him for
a friend, but of late she had been forced to question even his
friendliness. He had, in fact, gone back almost to his old reserve and
taciturn aloofness.
From the West, in response to William's news of the engagement, came a
cordially pleased note in Kate's scrawling handwriting. Kate, indeed,
seemed to be the only member of the family who was genuinely delighted
with the coming marriage. As to Bertram--Bertram appeared to have aged
years in a single night, so drawn and white was his face the morning
after William had told him his plans.
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