human
Come up-stairs, Philip; I want to show you a little Paul Potter I bought the other day, said Lady Marabout one morning, returning from a shopping expedition to Regent Street, meeting her son at her own door just descending from his tilbury.
gpt
Lord Goodwood calling, did you say, Soames? Oh, very well.
human
The Potter is in my own room, Philip; you must come in here if you wish to see it, said that adroit lady, for the benefit of Soames. But when the door was shut, Lady Marabout lowered her voice confidentially:
gpt
The Potter isn't here, dear; I had it hung in the little cabinet through the drawing-rooms, but I don't wish to go up there for a few moments--you understand.
human
I understand! So Goody's positively coming to the point up there, is he?
gpt
No doubt he is, said Lady Marabout, reprovingly.
human
Why else should he come in when I was not at home? There is nothing extraordinary in it. The only thing I have wondered at is his having delayed so long.
gpt
If a man had to hang himself, would you wonder he put off pulling the bolt?
human
I don't see any point in your jests at all! returned Lady Marabout.
gpt
There is nothing ridiculous in winning such a girl as Valencia.
human
No; but the question here is not of winning her, but of buying her. The price is a little high--a ducal coronet and splendid settlements, a wedding-ring and bondage for life; but he will buy her, nevertheless. Cardonnel couldn't pay the first half of the price, and so he was swept out of the auction-room. You are shocked, mother! Ah, truth _is_ shocking sometimes, and always _maladroit_; one oughtn't to bring it into ladies' boudoirs.
gpt
Hold your tongue, Philip! I will not have you so satirical. Where do you take it from? Not from me, I am sure! Hark! there is Goodwood going! That is his step on the stairs, I think! Dear me, Philip, I wish you sympathized with me a little more, for I _do_ feel happy, and I can't help it; dear Adeliza will be so gratified.
human
My dear mother, I'll do my best to be sympathetic, I'll go and congratulate Goodwood as he gets in his cab, if you fancy I ought; but, you see, if I were in Dahomey beholding the head of my best friend coming off, I couldn't quite get up the amount of sympathy in their pleasure at the refreshing sight the Dahomites might expect from me, and so----