ange.Thepersonshehadknownsober,equal-minded,andrestrained,nowseemedviolentlyhysterical.Jamesstillshuddered,rememberingthecurate'sallusionstohisengagementandhewonderedthatMary,farfromthinkingthemimpertinent,hadbeenvastlygratified.Sheseemedtotakepleasureinpubliclyadvertisingherconnection,ingivingherprivateaffairstotheinspectionofallandsundry.Thewholeceremonyhadbeenrevoltingheloathedtheadulationandthefulsomesentiment.Hisownemotionsseemedvulgarnowthathehadbeenforcedtodisplaythemtothegapingcrowd.
Butthefunctionofthepreviousdayhadtheeffectalsoofsealinghisengagement.Everyoneknewofit.Jamie'snamewasindissolublyjoinedwithMary'shecouldnotbreakthetienowwithoutexposinghertotheutmosthumiliation.Andhowcouldheofferhersuchanaffrontwhenshelovedhimdevotedly?Itwasnotvanitythatmadehimthinkso,hismotherhadtoldhimoutrightandhesawitineverylookofMary'seyes,intheleastinflectionofhervoice.JamesaskedhimselfdesperatelywhyMaryshouldcareforhim.Hewasnotgood-lookinghewassilenthewasnotamusinghehadnoparticularattraction.
Jameswassittinginhisroom,andpresentlyheardMary'svoicecallingfromthehall.
"Jamie!Jamie!"
Hegotupandcamedownstairs.
"Why,Jamie,"saidhisfather,"yououghttohavegonetofetchMary,insteadofwaitinghereforhertocometoyou."
"Youcertainlyought,Jamie,"saidMary,laughingandthen,lookingathim,withsuddenfeeling:"Buthowseedyyoulook!"
Jameshadhardlyslept,troublingoverhisperplexity,andhelookedhaggardandtired.
"I'mallright,"hesaid"I'mnotverystrongyet,andIwasratherexhaustedyesterday."
"Marythoughtyouwouldliketogowithherthismorning,whileshedoesherdistrictvisiting."
"It'sabeautifulmorning,Jamieitwilldoyougood!"criedMary.
"Ishouldlikeitverymuch."
Theystartedout.Maryworeherevery-daycostume—asergegown,asailorhat,andsolid,square-toedboots.Shewalkedfast,withlongstepsandfirmcarr