Should the vacancy occur during his absence, and should the Duke consent, he could return at once.

All this occurred in the last week or two before his marriage.
There were various little incidents which did not tend to make the happiness of Emily Wharton complete.

She wrote to her cousin Mary Wharton, and also to Lady Wharton;--and her father wrote to Sir Alured; but the folk at Wharton Hall did not give in their adherence.
Old Mrs.Fletcher was still there, but John Fletcher had gone home to Longbarns.

The obduracy of the Whartons might probably be owing to these two accidents.

Mrs.Fletcher declared aloud, as soon as the tidings reached her, that she never wished to see or hear anything more of Emily Wharton.