Why not ?' 'It seems sad that such an event as a marriage should give rise to so much ill-feeling.

I almost wish we had not meddled, Robert.' 'I don't think there is anything to regret.

Remember what Hester's position would have been if my father had died, leaving her simply to her mother's guardianship! We were bound to free her from that, and we have done it.' This was all very well;--but still there was no triumph, no ringing of those inward marriage bells the sound of whose music ought to be so pleasant to both the families concerned.
There were, however, two persons quite firm to their purpose, and these were the bride and bridegroom.

With him firmness was comparatively easy.
When his father suggested that the whole Bolton family was making itself disagreeable, he could with much satisfaction reply that he did not intend to marry the whole Bolton family.

Having answered the first letter or two he could ignore the Babington remonstrances.