Morton has not now to learn that," said Charlotte, simply, but dropping her eyes; "I have been the next door neighbour of George all my life, and have seen too much of his goodness of heart not to have expressed the same opinion often."
"Well, Charlotte, you have seen him at last!" cried Maria, the instant the door had closed; "and I am dying to know how you like him!"
"His own, too?" inquired Charlotte, a little archly.
"It is fortunate that he can supply their loss in any way," said Charlotte, with emphasis.
'Bless her, she's going off!' said Charlotte. 'A glass of water, Noah, dear.
I don't know, ma'am,' said Charlotte, 'unless we send for the police-officers.'
Charlotte, with the complacency of fate, led her from the river to the Piazza Signoria.
She echoed the raptures of Charlotte somewhat faintly.
As for Charlotte--as for Charlotte she was exactly the same.
Happy Charlotte, who, though greatly troubled over things that did not matter, seemed oblivious to things that did; who could conjecture with admirable delicacy "where things might lead to," but apparently lost sight of the goal as she approached it.
She wished to bring the talk back to marriage again, in order to hear Aunt Charlotte's views, but she did not know how to do this.
"Let me look at your engagement-ring, Aunt Charlotte," she said, noticing her own.