They wanted, I suppose, to have a witness of
the calmness of that function. The girl's luggage had been already
packed and sent off before. Her berth on the steamer had been
taken. They had timed it all so exactly that it went like clockwork.
They had known the date upon which Colonel Rufford would get
Edward's letter and they had known almost exactly the hour at
which they would receive his telegram asking his daughter to
come to him. It had all been quite beautifully and quite
mercilessly arranged, by Edward himself. They gave Colonel
Rufford, as a reason for telegraphing, the fact that Mrs Colonel
Somebody or other would be travelling by that ship and that she
would serve as an efficient chaperon for the girl. It was a most
amazing business, and I think that it would have been better in the
eyes of God if they had all attempted to gouge out each other's
eyes with carving knives. But they were "good people". After my
interview with Leonora I went desultorily into Edward's gun-room.
I didn't know where the girl was and I thought I mind find her
there. I suppose I had a vague idea of proposing to her in spite of
Leonora. So, I presume, I don't come of quite such good people as
the Ashburnhams.
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