CHAPTER XXII.
A GREAT DEAL TOO SOON.
But her sad eyes, still fastened on the ground, Are governed with a goodly modesty, That suffers not a look to glance away, Which may let in a little thought unsound.
_Spenser_.
Vouloir ce que Dieu veut est la seule science Qui nous met en repos.
_Malherbe_.
Richard had obtained for me (with difficulty), from the lawyer of the new uncle who had arisen, the privilege of remaining in the house for another month, undisturbed in any way.

At the end of those four weeks I was to be married to him, one day, quietly in church, and to go away.

It was very hard to have to see Sophie, and be treated with ignominy, for doing what I did not want to do; it was very hard to make preparations to leave the only place I wanted to stay in now; it was very hard to be tranquil and even, while my heart was like lead.

But I had begun to discover that that was the general order of things here below, and it did not amaze me as it had done at first.

I was doing my duty, to the best of my discernment, and was not to be deterred by all the lead in the world.
It was very well for Richard to say, he did it for sacrifice and for duty.