Part 30 (1/2)
”But you didn't know we would!” she remonstrated.
”I was sure of it,” said Carl.
When he left, Jane wondered if he had promised or given her father any money; she half suspected there had been some bargaining and resented the thought. She knew her father loved her dearly, but he also loved money and would go far to get it.
Tom Thrush came home, putting a bold face on, but looked rather sheepish.
”It's settled; I've taken him. We're to be married in Little Trent Church. Parson's coming to see us about it,” she said.
”Drat him, what's he coming for?” said Tom irritably.
”Carl says we're to be married as soon as possible by special license.
I suppose that's what he's coming about,” replied Jane.
”He's in a hurry.”
”We're going to the sea--for the honeymoon,” said Jane, blus.h.i.+ng prettily.
”She's a beauty,” thought Tom. ”I wonder if she could have done better for herself?” He was seldom satisfied with anything.
”Where to, what seaside?” he asked.
”He said he could not tell me before we left. He didn't want the people about here to know.”
”That's queer. Why shouldn't he?” growled Tom.
”He's good reasons for it, no doubt,” she answered. ”Was anything said about money?”
Tom shuffled uneasily in his chair.
”Well, yes, we had a few words about it.”
”What did you say to him?”
”Told him it was usual for a man of means to settle something on his wife.”
”Well, what did he say?”
”Laughed; said he wasn't exactly a rich man but he could afford to keep a wife in comfort. Then he offered to give me a hundred pounds to put by for you in case anything happened to him. He said it would do for a bit until his affairs were settled. I said it wasn't much. We argued the thing out. He's promised two hundred; that's not so bad,” said Tom in a hesitating way.
”Did he give you the money?” she asked,
”No, he's bringing it to-night.”
”To hand it to me?” she asked.
”I said I'd best keep it for you until you wanted it.”
Jane smiled.