It wanted now but
twelve days to that on which the family were to sail from Southampton,
and nothing had been settled. 'If papa will allow me something ever so
small, and will trust me, I will live alone in lodgings,' said Nora.
'It is the maddest thing I ever heard,' said Sir Marmaduke.
'Who would take care of you, Nora?' asked Lady Rowley.
'And who would walk about with you?' said Lucy.
'I don't see how it would be possible to live alone like that,' said
Sophie.
'Nobody would take care of me, and nobody would walk about with me, and
I could live alone very well,' said Nora. 'I don't see why a young
woman is to be supposed to be so absolutely helpless as all that comes
to. Of course it won't be very nice, but it need not be for long.'
'Why not for long?' asked Sir Marmaduke.
'Not for very long,' said Nora.
'It does not seem to me,' said Sir Marmaduke, after a considerable
pause, 'that this gentleman himself is so particularly anxious for the
match. I have heard no day named, and no rational proposition made.
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