human
But, Aunt Pauline, she said,
gpt
You are too insupportable, May. One might suppose you to be an idiot! What has been the use of all my care, and my endeavours to make you look at things as a girl of your condition ought to look at them? Mr. Bragg could have placed you in a brilliant position. Now, I dare say, he will marry Felicia Hautenville. I have no doubt he will, and it will serve you right if he does. You think of no one but yourself. What do you suppose that worthy woman, Mrs. Dobbs, will say when she hears of your behaviour? After all the money she has spent on sending you to London!
human
What do you say, Aunt Pauline? she asked, almost breathlessly.
gpt
Granny has spent money to send me to London?
human
Of course, May, she replied, with an injured air.
gpt
Where do you suppose the money came from? Your uncle and I, as you must be well aware, find it difficult enough to keep up our position in society, with Cyril to place in the world, and those two little boys to provide for!
human
But papa! gasped May.
gpt
I thought my father was paying----
human
You chose to assume it. I never told you so. Mrs. Dobbs particularly wished us to keep the arrangement secret, and we did so. I appreciate her wisdom _now_ in keeping it secret from you, May; for your conduct to-day shows you to be destitute of the most ordinary tact and prudence.
gpt
And Granny--dear old Granny--has been depriving herself of money to keep me in town!
human
Yes, May; and a nice return you make for it! The good old creature, no doubt, has been pinching herself for years on your account. She has paid for your schooling, your dress, and everything; she even contrives, I dare say, by enduring some privations (Mrs. Dormer-Smith did not in the least suppose this to be the case, but she felt it was a rhetorical
gpt
and likely to affect her niece),
human
continued Pauline, rising to new heights of moral elevation.
gpt
No, I cannot believe you will be so ungrateful to that good old soul, and, indeed, I may say, to Providence! Really, there is something almost impious in it. Mrs. Dobbs does all she can to counteract the results of your father's unfortunate marriage--we _all_ do all we can; circumstances are so ordered by a Superior Power as to give you the chance of catching--of attracting the regard of a man of princely fortune--_you_, rather than a dozen other girls whose people have been looking after him for the last three seasons, and all this you reject! Toss it away, like a baby with a toy! No, May; you _are_ a Cheffington--you _are_ my poor unfortunate brother's own flesh and blood, and I will not believe it of you. Then, sinking back in her chair, she added in a faint voice,
human
Go away now, if you please, and send Smithson to me. I shall have to speak to your uncle when he comes in, and I really dread it. He will be so shocked--so astonished! As for me, I am utterly _hors de combat_ for the day, of course.
gpt
Granny