And Leonora, I assure you, was the absolutely perfect British
matron. She said that she quite favoured my suit; that she could
not desire for the girl a better husband; but that she considered
that the girl ought to see a little more of life before taking such an
important step. Yes, Leonora used the words "taking such an
important step". She was perfect. Actually, I think she would have
liked the girl to marry me enough but my programme included the
buying of the Kershaw's house about a mile away upon the
Fordingbridge road, and settling down there with the girl. That
didn't at all suit Leonora. She didn't want to have the girl within a
mile and a half of Edward for the rest of their lives. Still, I think
she might have managed to let me know, in some periphrasis or
other, that I might have the girl if I would take her to Philadelphia
or Timbuctoo. I loved Nancy very much--and Leonora knew it.
However, I left it at that. I left it with the understanding that Nancy
was going away to India on probation. It seemed to me a perfectly
reasonable arrangement and I am a reasonable sort of man. I
simply said that I should follow Nancy out to India after six
months' time or so.
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