"
"My engagement! what engagement?"
"It seems that there is some mistake," he said, and struggle as he might
to suppress it his tone was one of relief. "I understood that you had
become engaged to be married to Mr. Owen Davies. If I am wrong I am sure
I apologise."
"You are quite wrong, Mr. Bingham; I don't know who put such a notion
into your head, but there is no truth in it."
"Then allow me to congratulate you on there being no truth in it. You
see that is the beauty of nine affairs matrimonial out of ten--there
are two or more sides of them. If they come off the amiable and
disinterested observer can look at the bright side--as in this case,
lots of money, romantic castle by the sea, gentleman of unexceptional
antecedents, &c., &c, &c. If, on the other hand, they don't, cause can
still be found for thankfulness--lady might do better after all, castle
by the sea rather draughty and cold in spring, gentlemen most estimable
but perhaps a little dull, and so on, you see."
There was a note of mockery about his talk which irritated Beatrice
exceedingly. It was not like Mr.
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