human
She always had money when she was here, Hamilton Fisker said,
gpt
Then he wanted to know why Paul inquired.
human
I don't think, you know, that I should like to go in for a life partnership, if you mean that,
gpt
Tell me everything,
human
But you,--when did you arrive here?
gpt
Here, at this house, I arrived the night before last. On Tuesday I reached Liverpool. There I found that you were probably in London, and so I came on. I have come only to see you. I can understand that you should have been estranged from me. That journey home is now so long ago! Our meeting in New York was so short and wretched. I would not tell you because you then were poor yourself, but at that moment I was penniless. I have got my own now out from the very teeth of robbers. As she said this, she looked as though she could be very persistent in claiming her own,--or what she might think to be her own.
human
I could not get across to San Francisco as I said I would, and when I was there you had quarrelled with your uncle and returned. And now I am here. I at any rate have been faithful. As she said this his arm was again thrown over her, so as to press her head to his knee.
gpt
And now, she said,
human
I am engaged here about this railway, he said.
gpt
You have heard, I suppose, of our projected scheme?
human
Heard of it! San Francisco is full of it. Hamilton Fisker is the great man of the day there, and, when I left, your uncle was buying a villa for seventy-four thousand dollars. And yet they say that the best of it all has been transferred to you Londoners. Many there are very hard upon Fisker for coming here and doing as he did.
gpt
It's doing very well, I believe,
human
You are the manager here in England?
gpt
No,--I am a member of the firm that manages it at San Francisco; but the real manager here is our chairman, Mr. Melmotte.
human
Ah,--I have heard of him. He is a great man;--a Frenchman, is he not? There was a talk of inviting him to California. You know him of course?
gpt
Yes;--I know him. I see him once a week.
human
I would sooner see that man than your Queen, or any of your dukes or lords. They tell me that he holds the world of commerce in his right hand. What power;--what grandeur!
gpt
Grand enough, said Paul,
human
Such a man rises above honesty, said Mrs. Hurtle,
gpt
I prefer to be stopped by the ditches,
human
Ah, Paul, you were not born for commerce. And I will grant you this, that commerce is not noble unless it rises to great heights. To live in plenty by sticking to your counter from nine in the morning to nine at night, is not a fine life. But this man with a scratch of his pen can send out or call in millions of dollars. Do they say here that he is not honest?
gpt
As he is my partner in this affair perhaps I had better say nothing against him.
human
Of course such a man will be abused. People have said that Napoleon was a coward, and Washington a traitor. You must take me where I shall see Melmotte. He is a man whose hand I would kiss; but I would not condescend to speak even a word of reverence to any of your Emperors.
gpt
I fear you will find that your idol has feet of clay.
human
Ah,--you mean that he is bold in breaking those precepts of yours about coveting worldly wealth. All men and women break that commandment, but they do so in a stealthy fashion, half drawing back the grasping hand, praying to be delivered from temptation while they filch only a little, pretending to despise the only thing that is dear to them in the world. Here is a man who boldly says that he recognises no such law; that wealth is power, and that power is good, and that the more a man has of wealth the greater and the stronger and the nobler he can be. I love a man who can turn the hobgoblins inside out and burn the wooden bogies that he meets.
gpt
Personally, I do not like him,
human
I had thought to find that you and he were hand and glove.
gpt
Oh no.
human
But you are prospering in this business?
gpt
Yes,--I suppose we are prospering. It is one of those hazardous things in which a man can never tell whether he be really prosperous till he is out of it. I fell into it altogether against my will. I had no alternative.
human
It seems to me to have been a golden chance.
gpt
As far as immediate results go it has been golden.
human
That at any rate is well, Paul. And now,--now that we have got back into our old way of talking, tell me what all this means. I have talked to no one after this fashion since we parted. Why should our engagement be over? You used to love me, did you not?
gpt
You know I did,
human
I thought so. This I know, that you were sure and are sure of my love to you. Is it not so? Come, speak openly like a man. Do you doubt me?
gpt
No, indeed.
human
Oh, with what bated, half-mouthed words you speak,--fit for a girl from a nursery! Out with it if you have anything to say against me! You owe me so much at any rate. I have never ill-treated you. I have never lied to you. I have taken nothing from you,--if I have not taken your heart. I have given you all that I have to give. Then she leaped to her feet and stood a little apart from him.
gpt
If you hate me, say so.
human
Winifrid,
gpt
Winifrid! Yes, now for the first time, though I have called you Paul from the moment you entered the room. Well, speak out. Is there another woman that you love?
human
There is another,
gpt
Oh, she said, in a whisper;--
human
That was not the reason.
gpt
What;--can there be more reason than that,--better reason than that? Unless, indeed, it be that as you have learned to love another so also you have learned to--hate me.
human
Listen to me, Winifrid.
gpt
No, sir; no Winifrid now! How did you dare to kiss me, knowing that it was on your tongue to tell me I was to be cast aside? And so you love--some other woman! I am too old to please you, too rough,--too little like the dolls of your own country! What were your--other reasons? Let me hear your--other reasons, that I may tell you that they are lies.
human
We know too little of each other,
gpt
What more do you want to know? You can know all for the asking. Did I ever refuse to answer you? As to my knowledge of you and your affairs, if I think it sufficient, need you complain? What is it that you want to know? Ask anything and I will tell you. Is it about my money? You knew when you gave me your word that I had next to none. Now I have ample means of my own. You knew that I was a widow. What more? If you wish to hear of the wretch that was my husband, I will deluge you with stories. I should have thought that a man who loved would not have cared to hear much of one--who perhaps was loved once.
human
I wish to hear nothing,
gpt
Then why tell me that we know so little of each other? That, surely, is a poor excuse to make to a woman,--after you have been false to her. Why did you not say that when we were in New York together? Think of it, Paul. Is not that mean?
human
I do not think that I am mean.
gpt
No;--a man will lie to a woman, and justify it always. Who is--this lady?
human
I can not name her.
gpt
And I, who have come hither from California to see you, am to return satisfied because you tell me that you have--changed your affections? That is to be all, and you think that fair? That suits your own mind, and leaves no sore spot in your heart? You can do that, and shake hands with me, and go away,--without a pang, without a scruple?
human
I did not say so.
gpt
And you are the man who cannot bear to hear me praise Augustus Melmotte because you think him dishonest! Are you a liar?
human
I hope not.
gpt
Did you say you would be my husband? Answer me, sir.
human
I did say so.
gpt
Do you now refuse to keep your promise? You shall answer me.
human
I cannot marry you.
gpt
Then, sir, are you not a liar? It would have taken him long to explain to her, even had he been able, that a man may break a promise and yet not tell a lie. He had made up his mind to break his engagement before he had seen Hetta Carbury, and therefore he could not accuse himself of falseness on her account. He had been brought to his resolution by the rumours he had heard of her past life, and as to his uncertainty about her husband. If Mr. Hurtle were alive, certainly then he would not be a liar because he did not marry Mrs. Hurtle. He did not think himself to be a liar, but he was not at once ready with his defence.
human
Oh, Paul, she said, changing at once into softness,--
gpt
I am pleading to you for my life. Oh, that I could make you feel that I am pleading for my life. Have you given a promise to this lady also?
human
No, said he.
gpt
I have given no promise.
human
But she loves you?
gpt
She has never said so.
human
You have told her of your love?
gpt
Never.
human
There is nothing, then, between you? And you would put her against me,--some woman who has nothing to suffer, no cause of complaint, who, for aught you know, cares nothing for you. Is that so?
gpt
I suppose it is,
human
Then you may still be mine. Oh, Paul, come back to me. Will any woman love you as I do;--live for you as I do? Think what I have done in coming here, where I have no friend,--not a single friend,--unless you are a friend. Listen to me. I have told the woman here that I am engaged to marry you.
gpt
You have told the woman of the house?
human
Certainly I have. Was I not justified? Were you not engaged to me? Am I to have you to visit me here, and to risk her insults, perhaps to be told to take myself off and to find accommodation elsewhere, because I am too mealy-mouthed to tell the truth as to the cause of my being here? I am here because you have promised to make me your wife, and, as far as I am concerned, I am not ashamed to have the fact advertised in every newspaper in the town. I told her that I was the promised wife of one Paul Montague, who was joined with Mr. Melmotte in managing the new great American railway, and that Mr. Paul Montague would be with me this morning. She was too far-seeing to doubt me, but had she doubted, I could have shown her your letters. Now go and tell her that what I have said is false,--if you dare. The woman was not there, and it did not seem to be his immediate duty to leave the room in order that he might denounce a lady whom he certainly had ill-used. The position was one which required thought. After a while he took up his hat to go.
gpt
Do you mean to tell her that my statement is untrue?
human
No,-- he said;
gpt
And you will come back to me?
human
Yes;--I will come back.
gpt
I have no friend here, but you, Paul. Remember that. Remember all your promises. Remember all our love,--and be good to me.