eleven at night
The engagement has certainly been formed a little precipitately ; I quite agree with my father in that : still , good and happy marriages have been made in a hurry before now , and mother seems well satisfied . August 20 . -- A terrible announcement came this morning ; and we are in deep trouble . I have been quite unable to steady my thoughts on anything to - day till now -- half-past eleven at night -- and I only attempt writing these notes because I am too restless to remain idle , and there is nothing but waiting and waiting left for me to do . Mother has been taken dangerously ill at Versailles : they were within a day or two of starting ; but all thought of leaving must now be postponed , for she can not possibly be moved in her present state . I do n't like the sound of haemorrhage at all in a woman of her full habit , and Caroline and the Marlets have not exaggerated their accounts I am certain . On the receipt of the letter my father instantly decided to go to her , and I have been occupied all day in getting him off , for as he calculates on being absent several days , there have been many matters for him to arrange before setting out -- the chief being to find some one who will do duty for him next Sunday -- a quest of no small difficulty at such short notice ; but at last poor old feeble Mr. Dugdale has agreed to attempt it , with Mr. Highman , the Scripture reader , to assist him in the lessons .