Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/132

122 and social support, before some three months should have expired. He chafed however but moderately at the delay, for he reflected that it would give Francie time to endear herself to his whole circle. It would also have advantages for the Dossons; it would enable them to establish by simple but effective arts the modus vivendi with that rigid body. It would in short help every one to get used to everything. Mr. Dosson's designs and Delia's took no articulate form; what was mainly clear to Gaston was that his future wife's relatives had as yet no sense of disconnection. He knew that Mr. Dosson would do whatever Delia liked and that Delia would like to "start" her sister. Whether or no she expected to be present at the finish, she had a definite purpose of seeing the beginning of the race. Mr. Probert notified Mr. Dosson of what he proposed to "do" for his son, and Mr. Dosson appeared more amused than anything else at the news. He announced, in return, no intentions in regard to Francie, and his queer silence was the cause of another convocation of the house of Probert. Here Mme. de Brécourt's valorous spirit won another victory; she maintained, as she informed her brother, that there was no possible policy but a policy of confidence. "Lord help us, is that what they call confidence?" the young man exclaimed, guessing the way they all looked at each other; and he wondered how they would look next at