As she was sitting with her father a little later, he said, with a return of his humorous mood: 'I wonder on what footing Egremont will be in the new household ?' 'I suppose,' Annabel replied, 'his acquaintance with Mr.Dalmaine will continue to be of the slightest.' He paused a little, then, quietly: 'I am glad of this marriage.' Annabel said nothing.
'It proves,' he continued, 'that we did well in not thinking too gravely of a certain incident.' Annabel led the conversation away.

She had singular thoughts on this subject.

Paula's letter, first announcing the engagement, made mention of Egremont in a curious way; and it was at least a strange hap that Paula should be about to marry the man against whom Egremont had expressed such an antipathy.
Her father said no more, but Annabel had a new care for her dark mood to feed upon.

She felt that the words 'I am glad of this marriage' concerned herself.

They meant that her father was glad of the removal of what was perchance one barrier between Egremont and herself.