“Yes——whynot？Youknowtherewasnothingseriousbetweenhimandme“
“Yousee，dear，anoisybell-ringingmarriageatchurchhasthisobjectioninourcase：itwouldbeathingofreportalongwayround。NowIwouldgently，asgentlyaspossible，indicatetoyouhowinadvisablesuchpublicitywouldbeifweleaveHintock，andI
purchasethepracticethatIcontemplatepurchasingatBudmouth——
hardlymorethantwentymilesoff。Forgivemysayingthatitwillbefarbetterifnobodythereknowswhereyoucomefrom，noranythingaboutyourparents。Yourbeautyandknowledgeandmannerswillcarryyouanywhereifyouarenothamperedbysuchretrospectivecriticism。”
“Butcoulditnotbeaquietceremony，evenatchurch？”shepleaded。