human
I can understand, Roger, she said, taking his arm,
gpt
What people?
human
The Melmottes.
gpt
I don't dislike them. How should I dislike people that I never saw? I dislike those who seek their society simply because they have the reputation of being rich.
human
Meaning me.
gpt
No; not meaning you. I don't dislike you, as you know very well, though I do dislike the fact that you should run after these people. I was thinking of the Longestaffes then.
human
Do you suppose, my friend, that I run after them for my own gratification? Do you think that I go to their house because I find pleasure in their magnificence; or that I follow them down here for any good that they will do me?
gpt
I would not follow them at all.
human
I will go back if you bid me, but I must first explain what I mean. You know my son's condition,--better, I fear, than he does himself. Roger nodded assent to this, but said nothing.
gpt
What is he to do? The only chance for a young man in his position is that he should marry a girl with money. He is good-looking; you can't deny that.
human
Nature has done enough for him.
gpt
We must take him as he is. He was put into the army very young, and was very young when he came into possession of his own small fortune. He might have done better; but how many young men placed in such temptations do well? As it is, he has nothing left.
human
I fear not.
gpt
And therefore is it not imperative that he should marry a girl with money?
human
I call that stealing a girl's money, Lady Carbury.
gpt
Oh, Roger, how hard you are!
human
A man must be hard or soft,--which is best?
gpt
With women I think that a little softness has the most effect. I want to make you understand this about the Melmottes. It stands to reason that the girl will not marry Felix unless she loves him.
human
But does he love her?
gpt
Why should he not? Is a girl to be debarred from being loved because she has money? Of course she looks to be married, and why should she not have Felix if she likes him best? Cannot you sympathize with my anxiety so to place him that he shall not be a disgrace to the name and to the family?
human
We had better not talk about the family, Lady Carbury.
gpt
But I think so much about it.
human
You will never get me to say that I think the family will be benefited by a marriage with the daughter of Mr. Melmotte. I look upon him as dirt in the gutter. To me, in my old-fashioned way, all his money, if he has it, can make no difference. When there is a question of marriage people at any rate should know something of each other. Who knows anything of this man? Who can be sure that she is his daughter?
gpt
He would give her her fortune when she married.
human
Yes; it all comes to that. Men say openly that he is an adventurer and a swindler. No one pretends to think that he is a gentleman. There is a consciousness among all who speak of him that he amasses his money not by honest trade, but by unknown tricks,--as does a card sharper. He is one whom we would not admit into our kitchens, much less to our tables, on the score of his own merits. But because he has learned the art of making money, we not only put up with him, but settle upon his carcase as so many birds of prey.
gpt
Do you mean that Felix should not marry the girl, even if they love each other?
human
I have nothing more to say about it, he continued.
gpt
Had it gone on in London I should have said nothing. It is no affair of mine. When I am told that the girl is in the neighbourhood, at such a house as Caversham, and that Felix is coming here in order that he may be near to his prey, and when I am asked to be a party to the thing, I can only say what I think. Your son would be welcome to my house, because he is your son and my cousin, little as I approve his mode of life; but I could have wished that he had chosen some other place for the work that he has on hand.
human
If you wish it, Roger, we will return to London. I shall find it hard to explain to Hetta;--but we will go.
gpt
No; I certainly do not wish that.
human
But you have said such hard things! How are we to stay? You speak of Felix as though he were all bad. She looked at him hoping to get from him some contradiction of this, some retractation, some kindly word; but it was what he did think, and he had nothing to say. She could bear much. She was not delicate as to censure implied, or even expressed. She had endured rough usage before, and was prepared to endure more. Had he found fault with herself, or with Henrietta, she would have put up with it, for the sake of benefits to come,--would have forgiven it the more easily because perhaps it might not have been deserved. But for her son she was prepared to fight. If she did not defend him, who would?
gpt
I am grieved, Roger, that we should have troubled you with our visit, but I think that we had better go. You are very harsh, and it crushes me.
human
I have not meant to be harsh.
gpt
You say that Felix is seeking for his--prey, and that he is to be brought here to be near--his prey. What can be more harsh than that? At any rate, you should remember that I am his mother.
human
You should remember that I am his mother.
gpt
If I have hurt you, I regret it much.
human
Of course you have hurt me. I think I will go in now. How very hard the world is! I came here thinking to find peace and sunshine, and there has come a storm at once.
gpt
You asked me about the Melmottes, and I was obliged to speak. You cannot think that I meant to offend you. They walked on in silence till they had reached the door leading from the garden into the house, and here he stopped her.
human
If I have been over hot with you, let me beg your pardon. She smiled and bowed; but her smile was not one of forgiveness; and then she essayed to pass on into the house.
gpt
Pray do not speak of going, Lady Carbury.
human
I think I will go to my room now. My head aches so that I can hardly stand.