She was doing her part, as she believed, faithfully and well, although the dragging pain at her heart was almost more than she could endure, and the part of the marriage service had been reached where the ring should have been put on Mary's hand, when, to her amazement, she found it was on her own finger.
"Katherine, Katherine, how soundly you sleep, dear! Wake up, we are quite late this morning!" said Mrs.Burton, and Katherine opened her tired, heavy eyes to find that Beth and Lotta were enjoying a lively pillow fight on the other bed, and that their mother was already half-dressed.
For one moment she lay weakly wishing that she had not to rise to work, to struggle, and to endure; but the next minute found her out of bed and thrusting her face into a basin of cold water, which is, after all, the very best way of gathering up a little courage.
When she was dressed and out in the fresh air things did not look so bad.

Mrs.Burton might have been quite mistaken in thinking that Mary cared for Jervis Ferrars.

In the broad light of the sunshiny morning the very idea seemed absurd.

The rich man's daughter had a wide circle to choose from; it was scarcely likely that her choice would fall on a poor man, whose position was little removed from that of a Hudson Bay fisherman.
Of course it was absurd! Mrs.Burton must have had a sentimental streak on last night, and she herself was uncommonly foolish to have been made so miserable for nothing at all.
When Katherine reached this point in her musings her laughter rang out again, the future brightened up, and she was ready to face anything the day might bring.

Happiness is such a great factor in one's life; and when that is secured it is easy to make light of the ordinary ills, troubles, cares, and vexations which are sure to crop up even in the smoothest kind of existence.