`How can I hope,' she said, `that your interposition would have prevailed with me, when I know how obdurate I was! I never thought at all; dear Mr. Chuzzlewit, I never thought at all; I had no thought, no heart, no care to find one; at that time. It has grown out of my trouble. I have felt it in my trouble. I wouldn't recall my trouble such as it is and has been -- and it is light in comparison with trials which hundreds of good people suffer every day, I know -- I wouldn't recall it to-morrow, if I could.
It has been my friend, for without it no one could have changed me; nothing could have changed me. Do not mistrust me because of these tears; I cannot help them. I am grateful for it, in my soul. Indeed I am!'
`Indeed she is!' said Mrs. Todgers. `I believe it, sir.'
`And so do I!' said Mr. Chuzzlewit. `Now, attend to me, my dear. Your late husband's estate, if not wasted by the confession of a large debt to the broken office (which document, being useless to the runaways, has been sent over to England by them: not so much for the sake of the creditors as for the gratification of their dislike to him, whom they suppose to be still living), will be seized upon by law; for it is not exempt, as I learn, from the claims of those who have suffered by the fraud in which he was engaged. Your father's property was all, or nearly all, embarked in the same transaction. If there be any left, it will be seized on in like manner. There is no home there.'
`I couldn't return to him,' she said, with an instinctive reference to his having forced her marriage on. `I could not return to him.'
`I know it,' Mr. Chuzzlewit resumed; `and I am here because I know it.
Come with me! From all who are about me, you are certain (I have ascertained it) of a generous welcome. But until your health is re-established, and you are sufficiently composed to bear that welcome, you shall have your abode in any quiet retreat of your own choosing, near London; not so far removed but that this kind-hearted lady may still visit you as often as she pleases. You have suffered much; but you are young, and have a brighter and a better future stretching out before you. Come with me. Your sister is careless of you, I know. She hurries on and publishes her marriage, in a spirit which (to say no more of it) is barely decent, is unsisterly, and bad. Leave the house before her guests arrive. She means to give you pain. Spare her the offence, and come with me!'
Mrs. Todgers, though most unwilling to part with her, added her persuasions.
Even poor old Chuffey (of course included in the project) added his. She hurriedly attired herself, and was ready to depart, when Miss Pecksniff dashed into the room.
Miss Pecksniff dashed in so suddenly, that she was placed in an embarrassing position. For though she had completed her bridal toilette as to her head, on which she wore a bridal bonnet with orange flowers she had not completed it as to her skirts, which displayed no choicer decoration than a dimity bedgown. She had dashed in, in fact, about half-way through, to console her sister in her affliction with a sight of the aforesaid bonnet; and being quite unconscious of the presence of a visitor, until she found Mr. Chuzzlewit standing face to face with her, her surprise was an uncomfortable one.
`So, young lady!' said the old man, eyeing her with strong disfavour.
`You are to be married to-day!'
`Yes, sir,' returned Miss Pecksniff, modestly. `I am. I -- my dress is rather -- really, Mrs. Todgers!'
`Your delicacy,' said old Martin, `is troubled, I perceive. I am not surprised to find it so. You have chosen the period of your marriage unfortunately.'
`I beg your pardon, Mr. Chuzzlewit,' retorted Cherry; very red and angry in a moment: `but if you have anything to say on that subject, I must beg to refer you to Augustus. You will scarcely think it manly, I hope, to force an argument on me, when Augustus is at all times ready to discuss it with you. I have nothing to do with any deceptions that may have been practised on my parent,' said Miss Pecksniff, pointedly; `and as I wish to be on good terms with everybody at such a time, I should have been glad if you would have favoured us with your company at breakfast. But I will not ask you as it is: seeing that you have been prepossessed and set against me in another quarter. I hope I have my natural affections for another quarter, and my natural pity for another quarter; but I cannot always submit to be subservient to it, Mr. Chuzzlewit. That would be a little too much.
I trust I have more respect for myself, as well as for the man who claims me as his Bride.'
`Your sister, meeting -- as I think: not as she says, for she has said nothing about it -- with little consideration from you, is going away with me,' said Mr. Chuzzlewit.
`I am very happy to find that she has some good fortune at last,' returned Miss Pecksniff, tossing her head. `I congratulate her, I am sure. I am not surprised that this event should be painful to her -- painful to her -- but I can't help that, Mr. Chuzzlewit. It's not my fault.'
`Come, Miss Pecksniff!' said the old man, quietly. `I should like to see a better parting between you. I should like to see a better parting on your side, in such circumstances. It would make me your friend. You may want a friend one day or other.'
