He lived, some were
pleased to say, and among others, his physician, through my agency--my
admirable nursing--for none save Vernon ever knew the secret of my sway.
We became engaged during his convalescence, simply, quietly,
unostentatiously.
In due time we made our troth-plight known to the household of
Beauseincourt, all of whom, from its formal master to my best-beloved,
brightest, and ever-tantalizing pupil, Bertie, accorded me their
heart-felt congratulations. Gregory alone--the evil genius of the
place--cast his poisonous sneers and doubts above our happiness--a
structure too firmly based, too far removed from him, however, for his
arrows to reach or destroy. Circumstances seemed later to favor his
malicious designs, as shall be shown in the conclusion of this work;
but, together, and in the full flush of our happiness, we were
invincible.
A sudden summons from the seat of government compelled Captain Wentworth
to leave Lesdernier a few hours after its reception--hours of which he
passed, through the necessity of speedy preparation, but one with me. So
far I had delayed the revelation of my true history and name, preferring
to postpone this to my majority and our marriage-day; but, after his
departure, I rued my resolution, and concluded to write to him a hasty
summary of my life and motives of action.
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