It must have come some day: and why not now as at a later period?
He who would have married her himself must at least be silent with regard to her marriage.

How Miss Crawley would bear the news--was the great question.

Misgivings Rebecca had; but she remembered all Miss Crawley had said; the old lady's avowed contempt for birth; her daring liberal opinions; her general romantic propensities; her almost doting attachment to her nephew, and her repeatedly expressed fondness for Rebecca herself.

She is so fond of him, Rebecca thought, that she will forgive him anything: she is so used to me that I don't think she could be comfortable without me: when the eclaircissement comes there will be a scene, and hysterics, and a great quarrel, and then a great reconciliation.

At all events, what use was there in delaying?
the die was thrown, and now or to-morrow the issue must be the same.