The more they reflected on the affair the
less they liked it; but it was agreed that they could do nothing, and
that to dissuade their son would only embitter him against them.
"Perhaps," said Mrs. Allen, "when she has a family she will be
better."
Mrs. Allen had a belief that children cured a woman of many follies.
Nevertheless the mother could not refrain, when she had to talk to
George about his engagement, from "letting out" just a word.
"I hope you will be happy, my dear boy. The great thing is not to
have a fool for a wife. There has never, to my knowledge, been a
woman amongst the Burtons or the Allens who was a fool.
George felt nothing at the time, for he suspected nothing; but the
words somehow remained with him, and reappeared later on in black
intensity like invisible writing under heat.
So they were married, and went to live in a cottage, small, but very
respectable, in the Shott Road. For the first six months both were
in bliss. Priscilla was constantly backwards and forwards to her
mother, who took upon herself at once the whole direction of her
affairs; but there was no rupture with the Allens, for, whatever her
other faults might be, Priscilla was not given to making quarrels,
and there was little or no bitterness or evil temper in her.
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