And considering all the circumstances, Mrs. Brownlow and Allen were
alike determined against undignified haste. Miss Menella ought to be
married from among her own kindred, and from her own house; but this
was not easy to manage; for poor Mary Whiteside and her husband,
though very worthy, were not exactly the people to enact parents in
such a house as Belforest; and Mrs. Brownlow could see why she
herself should not, though Elvira could not think why she objected.
At last the idea was started that the fittest persons were Mr. and
Mrs. Wakefield. The latter was a thorough lady, pleasant and
sensible. The only doubt was whether so very quiet a person could be
asked to undertake such an affair, and her husband took leave, that
he might consult her and see whether she could bring herself to be
mother for the nonce to the wild heiress, of whom his family were
wont to talk with horrified compassion.
When he was gone, it was possible to come to the examination upon
Janet for which Mother Carey had been so anxious. How was she
looking?
"Oh! so old, and worn and thin. I never should have guessed it was
Janet, if I had not caught her eye, and then I knew her eyebrows and
nose, because they are just like Allen's,-—and her voice sounded so
like home that I was ready to cry, only I did not dare, as Gilbert
was there.
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