It had been her life-long habit to reverence
and obey Miss Prue; if she went against her in this matter it would be
an unprecedented event. Then she could not but realize what a fine match
it would be in a worldly point of view, allying her with those families
she had, all her life, been taught to consider as first in her little
world. It would give her dear ones certain comfort and herself rest from
care and anxiety; she knew well what a warm nest Jasper's wife would
step into, admired, petted, and cousined by relatives innumerable. Last
of all, it would ally her to a young man she had always liked, and could
thoroughly respect as well; one too, who would, she felt certain, be a
tender, loyal mate. What was there against it? Why--as Molly would say--
didn't she "jump at the chance"?
She felt really indignant at herself for her own perverseness; but,
though she would not tell herself the reason why, she felt this thing to
be impossible.
Better struggle along under her burdens as she had been doing, rather
than go so reluctantly to that true and tender heart.
"Oh, I wish she had not spoken!" she whispered to herself passionately
one day as these thoughts kept tormenting her. "I never knew Miss Prue
to do so unkind a thing before! But why do I think about it? It's time
enough to worry when Jasper speaks.
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