I should think you might leave off joking now." "Not I, I assure you.

I leave the sentimental side of the question to you and Mr.Percy; though, to tell you the truth, I think you would be much better off in that respect with Maurice, and his highflown notions, which Elise calls chivalrous." Certainly Bella's manner agreed with her words--never was so important a piece of news told by one girl to another, in so calm and business-like a style.

Lucia, rather given to romance herself, was puzzled and half shocked.
When the visitors were gone, she repeated what she had heard to her mother, with wondering comments on a compact so coolly arranged, and was rather surprised to find that Mrs.Costello completely approved of it.
"I dare say," she said, "it may be a very happy marriage.

Doctor Morton is a sensible man, and Bella too honest a girl to marry him if she did not mean to behave as he would like her." And this, then, was her mother's idea of a happy marriage.

Lucia wondered still more, yet less than she would have done if she had known how gladly Mrs.Costello would have seen her, also, safely bestowed in the keeping of "a sensible man.".