But it is not to be known yet."' 'Seen the licence?
How the--' 'Accidentally, I believe, when your coat was hanging somewhere.' The information, coupled with the infelicitous word 'proudly,' caused Nicholas to flush with mortification.

He knew that it was in his aunt's nature to make a brag of that sort; but worse than the brag was the fact that this was the first occasion on which Christine had deigned to show her consciousness that such a marriage would be a source of pride to his relatives--the only two he had in the world.
'You are sorry, then, even to be thought my wife, much less to be it.' He dropped her hand, which fell lifelessly.
'It is not sorry exactly, dear Nic.

But I feel uncomfortable and vexed, that after screwing up my courage, my fidelity, to the point of going to church, you should have so muddled--managed the matter that it has ended in neither one thing nor the other.

How can I meet acquaintances, when I don't know what they are thinking of me ?' 'Then, dear Christine, let us mend the muddle.

I'll go away for a few days and get another licence, and you can come to me.' She shrank from this perceptibly.