But a happy time, nevertheless, for it was taking him nearer and nearer to March, when they were to be married, and all the little preparations for their new housekeeping marked the progress towards the longed-for day.

不过，这是一段快乐的时光，因为他离三月越来越近了，那时他们要结婚了，为他们的新家务做的所有小准备都标志着向着盼望已久的日子迈进了一步。