He was
candor and generosity itself when the preliminaries of the
marriage-settlement were under discussion. He quite overpowered
Mr. Welwyn and the lawyers with references, papers, and
statements of the distribution and extent of his property, which
were found to be perfectly correct. His sisters were written to,
and returned the most cordial answers; saying that the state of
their health would not allow them to come to England for the
marriage; but adding a warm invitation to Normandy for the bride
and her family. Nothing, in short, could be more straightforward
and satisfactory than the baron's behavior, and the testimonies
to his worth and integrity which the news of the approaching
marriage produced from his relatives and his friends.
The only joyless face at the Grange now was Ida's. At any time it
would have been a hard trial to her to resign that first and
foremost place which she had held since childhood in her sister's
heart, as she knew she must resign it when Rosamond married. But,
secretly disliking and distrusting Franval as she did, the
thought that he was soon to become the husband of her beloved
sister filled her with a vague sense of terror which she could
not explain to herself; which it was imperatively necessary that
she should conceal; and which, on those very accounts, became a
daily and hourly torment to her that was almost more than she
could bear.
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