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Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1835-1915

"Phantom Fortune, a Novel"

He was a man to do the thing he set himself to
do, were it ever so difficult. To doubt his success would be to doubt
his truth and his honesty; for he had sworn to her he would make her
life bright and happy, and that evil days should never come to her; and
he was not the man to promise that which he was not able to perform.
The house seemed terribly dull now that the two young men were gone.
There was an oppressive silence in the rooms which had lately resounded
with Maulevrier's frank, boyish laughter, and with his friend's deep,
manly tones--a silence broken only by the click of Fraeulein Mueller's
needles.
The Fraeulein was not disposed to be sympathetic or agreeable about Lady
Mary's engagement. Firstly, she had not been consulted about it. The
thing had been done, she considered, in an underhand manner; and Lady
Maulevrier, who had begun by strenuously opposing the match, had been
talked over in a way that proved the latent weakness of that great
lady's character. Secondly, Miss Mueller, having herself for some reason
missed such joys as are involved in being wooed and won, was disposed to
look sourly upon all love affairs, and to take a despondent view of all
matrimonial engagements.


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