human
Have you seen Felix?
gpt
Yes. I caught him in the street.
human
We are so unhappy about him.
gpt
I cannot say but that you have reason. I think, you know, that your mother indulges him foolishly.
human
Poor mamma! She worships the very ground he treads on.
gpt
Even a mother should not throw her worship away like that. The fact is that your brother will ruin you both if this goes on.
human
What can mamma do?
gpt
Leave London, and then refuse to pay a shilling on his behalf.
human
What would Felix do in the country?
gpt
If he did nothing, how much better would that be than what he does in town? You would not like him to become a professional gambler.
human
Oh, Mr. Carbury; you do not mean that he does that!
gpt
It seems cruel to say such things to you,--but in a matter of such importance one is bound to speak the truth. I have no influence over your mother; but you may have some. She asks my advice, but has not the slightest idea of listening to it. I don't blame her for that; but I am anxious for the sake of--, for the sake of the family.
human
I am sure you are.
gpt
Especially for your sake. You will never throw him over.
human
You would not ask me to throw him over.
gpt
But he may drag you into the mud. For his sake you have already been taken into the house of that man Melmotte.
human
I do not think that I shall be injured by anything of that kind,
gpt
Pardon me if I seem to interfere.
human
Oh, no;--it is no interference from you.
gpt
Pardon me then if I am rough. To me it seems that an injury is done to you if you are made to go to the house of such a one as this man. Why does your mother seek his society? Not because she likes him; not because she has any sympathy with him or his family;--but simply because there is a rich daughter.
human
Everybody goes there, Mr. Carbury.
gpt
Yes,--that is the excuse which everybody makes. Is that sufficient reason for you to go to a man's house? Is there not another place to which we are told that a great many are going, simply because the road has become thronged and fashionable? Have you no feeling that you ought to choose your friends for certain reasons of your own? I admit there is one reason here. They have a great deal of money, and it is thought possible that he may get some of it by falsely swearing to a girl that he loves her. After what you have heard, are the Melmottes people with whom you would wish to be connected?
human
I don't know.
gpt
I do. I know very well. They are absolutely disgraceful. A social connection with the first crossing-sweeper would be less objectionable. He spoke with a degree of energy of which he was himself altogether unaware. He knit his brows, and his eyes flashed, and his nostrils were extended. Of course she thought of his own offer to herself. Of course her mind at once conceived,--not that the Melmotte connection could ever really affect him, for she felt sure that she would never accept his offer,--but that he might think that he would be so affected. Of course she resented the feeling which she thus attributed to him. But, in truth, he was much too simple-minded for any such complex idea.
human
Felix, he continued,
gpt
I think, Mr. Carbury, that mamma will take care that I am not taken where I ought not to be taken.
human
I wish you to have some opinion of your own as to what is proper for you.
gpt
I hope I have. I am sorry you should think that I have not.
human
I am old-fashioned, Hetta.
gpt
And we belong to a newer and worse sort of world. I dare say it is so. You have been always very kind, but I almost doubt whether you can change us now. I have sometimes thought that you and mamma were hardly fit for each other.
human
I have thought that you and I were,--or possibly might be fit for each other.
gpt
Oh,--as for me, I shall always take mamma's side. If mamma chooses to go to the Melmottes I shall certainly go with her. If that is contamination, I suppose I must be contaminated. I don't see why I'm to consider myself better than any one else.
human
I have always thought that you were better than any one else.
gpt
That was before I went to the Melmottes. I am sure you have altered your opinion now. Indeed, you have told me so. I am afraid, Mr. Carbury, you must go your way, and we must go ours.