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Alreadyhermindwasbusywithbenevolentplansforherfriends，orratherwithonemagnificentplan——whichwassimpletoo——
theywerealltogetmarried——atonce——directlyshegotback。
Marriage，marriagethatwastherightthing，theonlything，thesolutionrequiredbyeveryonesheknew，andagreatpartofhermeditationswasspentintracingeveryinstanceofdiscomfort，loneliness，ill-health，unsatisfiedambition，restlessness，eccentricity，takingthingsupanddroppingthemagain，publicspeaking，andphilanthropicactivityonthepartofmenandparticularlyonthepartofwomentothefactthattheywantedtomarry，weretryingtomarry，andhadnotsucceededingettingmarried。
If，asshewasboundtoown，thesesymptomssometimespersistedaftermarriage，shecouldonlyascribethemtotheunhappylawofnaturewhichdecreedthattherewasonlyoneArthurVenning，andonlyoneSusanwhocouldmarryhim。Hertheory，ofcourse，hadthemeritofbeingfullysupportedbyherowncase。Shehadbeenvaguelyuncomfortableathomefortwoorthreeyearsnow，andavoyagelikethiswithherselfisholdaunt，whopaidherfarebuttreatedherasservantandcompanioninone，wastypicalofthekindofthingpeopleexpectedofher。Directlyshebecameengaged，Mrs。Paleybehavedwithinstinctiverespect，positivelyprotestedwhenSusanasusualkneltdowntolacehershoes，andappearedreallygratefulforanhourofSusan’scompanywhereshehadbeenusedtoexacttwoorthreeasherright。Shethereforeforesawalifeoffargreatercomfortthanshehadbeenusedto，andthechangehadalreadyproducedagreatincreaseofwarmthinherfeelingstowardsotherpeople。
ItwascloseontwentyyearsnowsinceMrs。Paleyhadbeenabletolaceherownshoesoreventoseethem，thedisappearanceofherfeethavingcoincidedmoreorlessaccuratelywiththedeathofherhusband，amanofbusiness，soonafterwhicheventMrs。Paleybegantogrowstout。Shewasaselfish，independentoldwoman，possessedofaconsiderableincome，whichshespentupontheupkeepofahousethatneededsevenservantsandacharwomaninLancasterGate，andanotherwithagardenandcarriage-horsesinSurrey。
Susan’sengagementrelievedheroftheonegreatanxietyofherlife——
thathersonChristophershould“entanglehimself“withhiscousin。
Nowthatthisfamiliarsourceofinterestwasremoved，shefeltalittlelowandinclinedtoseemoreinSusanthansheusedto。
Shehaddecidedtogiveheraveryhandsomeweddingpresent，achequefortwohundred，twohundredandfifty，orpossibly，conceivably——
itdependedupontheunder-gardenerandHuths’billfordoingupthedrawing-room——threehundredpoundssterling。
Shewasthinkingofthisveryquestion，revolvingthefigures，asshesatinherwheeledchairwithatablespreadwithcardsbyherside。ThePatiencehadsomehowgotintoamuddle，andshedidnotliketocallforSusantohelpher，asSusanseemedtobebusywithArthur。
“She’severyrighttoexpectahandsomepresentfromme，ofcourse，“
shethought，lookingvaguelyattheleopardonitshindlegs，“andI’venodoubtshedoes！Moneygoesalongwaywitheveryone。
Theyoungareveryselfish。IfIweretodie，nobodywouldmissmebutDakyns，andshe’llbeconsoledbythewill！However，I’vegotnoreasontocomplain……Icanstillenjoymyself。I’mnotaburdentoany-one……Ilikeagreatmanythingsagooddeal，inspiteofmylegs。“
Beingslightlydepressed，however，shewentontothinkoftheonlypeopleshehadknownwhohadnotseemedtoheratallselfishorfondofmoney，whohadseemedtohersomehowratherfinerthanthegeneralrun；peopleshewillinglyacknowledged，whowerefinerthanshewas。Therewereonlytwoofthem。Onewasherbrother，whohadbeendrownedbeforehereyes，theotherwasagirl，hergreatestfriend，whohaddiedingivingbirthtoherfirstchild。
Thesethingshadhappenedsomefiftyyearsago。
“Theyoughtnottohavedied，“shethought。“However，theydid——
andweselfish
