human
Very sorry to disturb you so early, he said, brandishing the poker, and looking hard at a timepiece,
gpt
I don't know about that, said Jack, good-humouredly,
human
I'm afraid you're trying to chaff me. But you ought to allow I'm not often so late.
gpt
That is what I told your uncle, broke in Mrs Thornton with eagerness.
human
I am sure there are so many young men who come here who are so much worse--
gpt
Much fiddlesticks! growled her husband.
human
What are those young idiots to me? However, you never can do anything that's not perfect, so, of course I give in. I suppose I am to be told this morning that all this Italian business is just as it should be.
gpt
We are both sorry that you should be disappointed, Jack said quietly,
human
Disappointed! The disappointment will be on your side you will find!
gpt
Excuse me, I had not finished my sentence. I was going to say that grateful as I am for your kindness, this is a matter in which I could not allow anyone to dictate to me.
human
Oh, very well, sir, very well. You must go your own way. I shall not attempt to interfere. Only you will quite understand that neither you nor Phillis have anything more to look for from my hands.
gpt
My dear Peter! Now do not be so hasty. You know how sorry you often are when it is too late.
human
Will you hold your tongue?
gpt
You don't really mean it, she went on disregarding,
human
No, I won't. If nobody else is here to speak, I shall tell you what I think of it. There is nobody so near you as Jack. As to all this business, you know very well that it is no one's fault but Phillis's, she said so herself in her letters, and I do say it is a shame that the poor boy should suffer--
gpt
No, that is not the case. Whatever blame there is--and I suppose there always is blame, first or last, in a broken engagement--rests entirely with me. It will be very unjust, Uncle Peter, if you visit my sins on poor Phillis. I tell you honestly that I liked the thought of Hetherton at first, I dare say I should like it still; but it was a mistake of yours, I think, though no doubt you meant it kindly, to mix up the two things together, and it makes it uncommonly hard upon one of the two, don't you see? Set it right with Phillis, and I shall take my disinheriting without grumbling.
human
Whatever I may be, I'm not a weather-cock. I made up my mind deliberately, and I'm not going to change it for any boy or girl fancies. Marry Phillis, and you and she and your heirs after you shall have Hetherton, and plenty to keep it on. Don't marry her, and I shall find another successor. That's all. You can't have it more plainly.
gpt
Oh, it's plain enough, said Jack with some bitterness, walking over to the window. What he thought was that it placed a wider gulf than ever between them. For he could not think that she cared about Hetherton, and he knew he did--to a certain degree; and how could he come near her again with this condition hanging over them?
human
Well, he said, turning back to the fire,
gpt
What of him?
human
Is he doing well?
gpt
Just the reverse. We should have sent him off by this time if it had not been for my very good friend Mr Trent,
human
What are his sins?
gpt
Perhaps you don't think so much of them in your set. We business men have an antiquated idea that it is dishonourable to give a promissory note when you have no means of meeting it when due.
human
I am sure Jack would never be dishonourable,
gpt
Ah-- said Jack musingly.
human
Then the money was not forthcoming?
gpt
Certainly not.
human
And you heard of it?
gpt
I was informed by Mr Trent, who being interested in the young scamp--
human
His cousin,
gpt
His cousin! Mr Thornton looked astonished for a moment.
human
Well, then, his cousin--very generously paid the money and got the note into his own hands. He acted throughout in the manner I should have expected from him, came to me at once, asked my advice, and begged me, if I felt it a possibility, to give the lad another chance. After consideration I consented. Pray have you anything to say against all this?
gpt
Not to-day,
human
Not to-day! repeated his uncle.
gpt
Perhaps you intend setting yourself up as the young man's champion against his best friend. And I tell you what, Jack. You seemed to me to be trying to pick a quarrel with Mr Trent last night. Don't let me see anything of the sort again. You will be good enough to behave to him as my friend.
human
Not as mine, at all events,