He was twenty-one, and could not be sent whither he would not go.
His uncle's resource was Mr. Kendal, who strongly hoped that the link
was about to snap, when, summoning the gentleman to the library, he
gave him to understand that he should consider a refusal to resume
his studies as tantamount to a dissolution of the engagement. A long
speech ensued about dear mothers, amiable daughters, classics,
languages, and foreign tours. That was all the account Mr. Kendal
could give his wife of the dialogue, and she could only infer that
Algernon's harangue had sent him into such a fit of abstraction, that
he really could not tell the drift of it. However, he was clear that
he had himself given no alternative between returning to Oxford and
resigning Lucy.
That same evening, Lucy, all blushes and tears, faltered out that she
was very unwilling, she could not bear to leave them all, nor dear
grandmamma, but dear Algernon had prevailed on her to say next
August!
When indignant astonishment permitted Albinia to speak, she reminded
Lucy that a respectable career at Oxford had been the condition.
'I know,' said Lucy, 'but dear Algernon convinced papa of the
unreasonableness of such a stipulation under the circumstances.'
Albinia felt the ground cut away under her feet, and all she could
attempt was a dry answer. 'We shall see what papa says; but you,
Lucy, how can you think of marrying with your grandmamma in this
state, and Gilbert in that camp of cholera--'
'I told Algernon it was not to be thought of,' said Lucy, her tears
flowing fast.
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