"Then you will be mine, mine, mine?" Walter cried in an ecstasy.
Dolly bent her pretty head in reluctant assent, with a torrent of
inner joy. The sun flashed in her chestnut hair. The triumph of
that moment was to her inexpressible.
But as for Walter Brydges, he seized the blushing face boldly in
his two brown hands, and imprinted upon it at once three respectful
kisses. Then he drew back, half-terrified at his own temerity.
XX.
From that day forth it was understood at Upcombe that Dolly Barton
was informally engaged to Walter Brydges. Their betrothal would be
announced in the "Morning Post"--"We learn that a marriage has been
arranged," and so forth--as soon as the chosen bride had returned
to town, and communicated the great news in person to her mother.
For reasons of her own, Dolly preferred this delay; she didn't wish
to write on the subject to Herminia. Would mamma go and spoil it
all? she wondered. It would be just like her.
The remaining week of her stay at the rectory was a golden dream of
delight to Dolly.
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