Part 34 (1/2)
Marston?” said the doctor, as he calmly stirred his coffee; ”just imagine her as you saw her, only a little excited, and you'll know exactly how she looked.”
”Did she have much attention?”
”You could hardly expect anything else, as the party was at her house.”
”Oh! of course people would be polite; but wasn't there anybody particularly attentive? Didn't she get 'taken out' a great deal?”
”'Taken out?'” repeated the doctor, with a puzzled expression. ”Mrs.
Marston, can you enlighten me?”
”Oh, yes!” laughed Mrs. Marston; ”that is only one of the mysterious phrases of the 'German,' which being interpreted means, did a great many gentlemen ask her to dance?”
”Oh, thank you,” replied the doctor. ”Yes, Rachel, she got 'taken out' a great deal; in fact she seemed to be out all the time.”
”There! _that's_ what I wanted to know,” said Rachel, in a tone of satisfaction; ”now tell me about Florence.”
”I'll try to answer you in the most approved style. She looked very charming indeed; seemed to have plenty of admirers, for I noticed that Miss Marion managed to have her share her honors, and made her the guest of the evening; she was 'taken out' a great deal, and above all, continued to carry my bouquet the whole evening without dropping it.”
”I'm so glad,” cried Rachel, ”but wasn't it a shame that Arthur Thornton should have sent his bouquet to Marion first?”
”A shame? Why, no indeed,” answered her uncle, with the utmost composure; ”for if he had not, she would have been obliged to carry mine, and I know she preferred Mr. Thornton's.”
”I don't believe it; yours was a great deal handsomer.”
”Oh! that's not the point! Of course you must see that Mr. Thornton is to be _the_ man.”
”Uncle Robert, how absurd! I don't believe Marion would ever have him in the world!”
”And why not, I should like to know? He is handsome, intelligent,--in fact, a very good fellow every way, and has plenty of money.”
”But Marion never will marry for money!” cried Rachel.
”I don't say she will; but what is your objection to Mr. Thornton?”
”I haven't any at all; I like him very much, but he would never do for Marion. She wants a much stronger man than he.”
”Well, perhaps he will develop his muscle,” replied Dr. Drayton, coolly.
”Uncle Robert! you know I don't mean that kind of strength!--mental strength; some one in every way superior to herself; in fact, some one that she could feel was her master.”
”Master! I can't imagine Miss Marion yielding her own sweet will to any one.”
”Rachel is right,” said Mrs. Marston; ”when Marion marries she will choose a man much older than herself.”
”Well, time will show,” said Dr. Drayton; ”but Rachel, if Marion Berkley is not engaged to Mr. Thornton at the end of six months, I'll give you the handsomest diamond ring I can buy at Bigelow's.”
CHAPTER XXIV.