Between them it was arranged that he
and his father should make a formal proposal of marriage to her parents,
as the best means of bringing the matter to a speedy issue. Before this
was done, however, Gerald, at the instigation of his wife, contrived
once more to introduce the subject as if by accident, in a conversation
with Jemmy Burke, who repeated his anxiety for the match as the best way
of settling down his son, and added, that he would lay the matter before
Hycy himself, with a wish that a union should take place between them.
This interview with old Burke proved a stumbling-block in the way of
M'Mahon. At length, after a formal proposal on the behalf of Bryan, and
many interviews with reference to it, something like a compromise was
effected. Kathleen consented to accept the latter in marriage, but
firmly and resolutely refused to hear Burke's name as a lover or suitor
mentioned. Her parents, however, hoping that their influence over her
might ultimately prevail, requested that she would not engage herself to
any one for two years, at the expiration of which period, if no change
in her sentiments should take place, she was to be at liberty to marry
M'Mahon. For the remainder of the summer and autumn, and up until
November, the period at which our narrative has now arrived, or, in
other words, when Bryan M'Mahon met Nanny Peety, matters had rested
precisely in the same position.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185