human
You haven't told her you think it's awful, have you?
gpt
Oh, no, of course not. I've written her a very nice letter. So has Dick. And we've both written to Maurice. It seems funny to have to call him Maurice. If she's _got_ to marry him, Dick says we must treat him as if we were pleased about it. And she told us that you had been simply adorable about it. So we knew that was the line you'd like us to take. But you can't really be pleased, are you, Dad?
human
Why do you think it's so awful?
gpt
Oh, Daddy, darling, _look_ at him! Look at him beside a man like Dick.
human
Oh, well, look at _anybody_ beside Dick!
gpt
Look here, B darling, he said,
human
I hope you won't go about crabbing this marriage of Cara's. If you do, she's bound to find it out sooner or later, and it will make her unhappy. It won't alter anything. She won't take your view of him, you know, and it can only divide her from you. It will make a cleavage in our family, and that's just what I don't want. You'll each have your own homes, but your old home will be a centre for all of you too. This chap will be part of the family now, and we've got to accept him, for Caroline's sake.
gpt
This chap! she repeated.
human
You darling transparent old thing! You think it's just as odd as I do--her marrying like that. You didn't talk of Dick as 'this chap!'
gpt
That's just what I was warning you about, he said.
human
I don't deny that there are certain things one has to get over, and until you do get over them you're likely to let drop something that shows you haven't quite. That's what you must be careful about.
gpt
Well, darling, I'm glad you haven't been so careful as all that, with me. You can quite safely tell me everything. It wouldn't be nice of you to pretend before me. I might think it very splendid of you, but I shouldn't love you more for it. I'm quite ready to back you up in keeping what you really think from Caroline.
human
What does Dick say about it? he asked.
gpt
Can't he see anything in Maurice that all the world can't see?
human
He thinks he is very nice; but of course he doesn't look upon him as a suitable husband for Caroline. He doesn't think you can either, and he can't make out why you don't try to stop it. You did with me--before--and we've never ceased blessing you for it.
gpt
I didn't try to stop it with you because that fellow--I suppose you've no objection to my calling him that--
human
You can call him what you like, darling.
gpt
Well, I didn't object to him because he hadn't got enough money. That's about what it would come to here.
human
Oh, no, it isn't, darling. And you don't think it is either.
gpt
Oh, if you can't talk about it sensibly, B, we'd better chuck it.
human
I think it's awfully sweet of you to want to make the best of it, she said.
gpt
I won't worry you any more, darling, if you're certain that nothing _can_ stop it.
human
Well, you ought to be able to see it as I do. You know what Caroline is. She wouldn't give her love, and take it away again when the sort of objections that you feel towards Maurice are pointed out to her. She's faced all that, and it doesn't matter to her. She sees a lot more in him than you can, or than I've been able to; though I tell you that there _is_ a lot in him, and _I'm_ quite ready to accept him. So you--and Dick--ought to make the effort too.
gpt
Caroline is different to me. That's quite true.
human
I haven't meant anything I've said to reflect on you.
gpt
I know, darling. But you wouldn't treat it like that if it were me, all the same. Well, of course we shall be as nice about it as ever we can, and if he does turn into something that makes him more equal to Caroline it will be all the easier. It's quite beyond me to think of him as her equal now, Dad, so you mustn't expect me to do it.
human
Oh, well, don't show it; that's all I ask,