human
I will invest L120,000 in land--only L120,000. I will not be tempted to sink more. I will have a fine house--a house fitting for a nobleman--a fine old Elizabethan house--a house of historical interest. I must have woods and lakes--and a deer-park, above all. Deer are very gentlemanlike things, very. De Clifford's place is to be sold, I know; they ask too much for it, but ready money is tempting. I can bargain--bargain, I am a good hand at a bargain. Should I be now Lord Baron Vargrave, if I had always given people what they asked? I will double my subscriptions to the Bible Society and the Philanthropic, and the building of new churches. The world shall not say Richard Templeton does not deserve his greatness. I will--Come in. Who's there?--come in.
gpt
I disturb you--I beg your pardon--I--
human
Come in, my dear, come in--I want to talk to you--I want to talk to your ladyship--sit down, pray.
gpt
You see, said the peer, crossing his legs, and caressing his left foot with both hands, while he see-sawed his stately person to and fro in his chair--
human
This place is splendid to me,
gpt
This place--nonsense--you must learn loftier ideas, Lady Vargrave; you are young, you can easily contract new habits, more, easily, perhaps, than myself. You are naturally ladylike, though I say it--you have good taste, you don't talk much, you don't show your ignorance--quite right. You must be presented at court, Lady Vargrave--we must give great dinners, Lady Vargrave. Balls are sinful, so is the opera, at least I fear so--yet an opera-box would be a proper appendage to your rank, Lady Vargrave.
human
My dear Mr. Templeton--
gpt
Lord Vargrave, if your ladyship pleases.
human
I beg pardon. May you live long to enjoy your honours; but I, my dear lord--I am not fit to share them: it is only in our quiet life that I can forget what--what I was. You terrify me when you talk of court--of--
gpt
Stuff, Lady Vargrave! stuff; we accustom ourselves to these things. Do I look like a man who has stood behind a counter? rank is a glove that stretches to the hand that wears it. And the child, dear child,--dear Evelyn, she shall be the admiration of London, the beauty, the heiress, the--oh, she will do me honour!
human
She will, she will!
gpt
No mother ever deserved more from a child than you from Evelyn.
human
I would hope I have done my duty,
gpt
Papa, papa! cried an impatient voice, tapping at the window,