human
I am afraid, my dear, we shall have a bad time of it here,
gpt
Why so, mamma?
human
It will be so dull. Your cousin is the best friend in all the world, and would make as good a husband as could be picked out of all the gentlemen of England; but in his present mood with me he is not a comfortable host. What nonsense he did talk about the Melmottes!
gpt
I don't suppose, mamma, that Mr. and Mrs. Melmotte can be nice people.
human
Why shouldn't they be as nice as anybody else? Pray, Henrietta, don't let us have any of that nonsense from you. When it comes from the superhuman virtue of poor dear Roger it has to be borne, but I beg that you will not copy him.
gpt
Mamma, I think that is unkind.
human
And I shall think it very unkind if you take upon yourself to abuse people who are able and willing to set poor Felix on his legs. A word from you might undo all that we are doing.
gpt
What word?
human
What word? Any word! If you have any influence with your brother you should use it in inducing him to hurry this on. I am sure the girl is willing enough. She did refer him to her father.
gpt
Then why does he not go to Mr. Melmotte?
human
I suppose he is delicate about it on the score of money. If Roger could only let it be understood that Felix is the heir to this place, and that some day he will be Sir Felix Carbury of Carbury, I don't think there would be any difficulty even with old Melmotte.
gpt
How could he do that, mamma?
human
If your cousin were to die as he is now, it would be so. Your brother would be his heir.
gpt
You should not think of such a thing, mamma.
human
Why do you dare to tell me what I am to think? Am I not to think of my own son? Is he not to be dearer to me than any one? And what I say, is so. If Roger were to die to-morrow he would be Sir Felix Carbury of Carbury.
gpt
But, mamma, he will live and have a family. Why should he not?
human
You say he is so old that you will not look at him.
gpt
I never said so. When we were joking, I said he was old. You know I did not mean that he was too old to get married. Men a great deal older get married every day.
human
If you don't accept him he will never marry. He is a man of that kind,--so stiff and stubborn and old-fashioned that nothing will change him. He will go on boodying over it, till he will become an old misanthrope. If you would take him I would be quite contented. You are my child as well as Felix. But if you mean to be obstinate I do wish that the Melmottes should be made to understand that the property and title and name of the place will all go together. It will be so, and why should not Felix have the advantage?
gpt
Who is to say it?
human
Ah;--that's where it is. Roger is so violent and prejudiced that one cannot get him to speak rationally.
gpt
Oh, mamma;--you wouldn't suggest it to him;--that this place is to go to--Felix, when he--is dead!
human
It would not kill him a day sooner.
gpt
You would not dare to do it, mamma.
human
I would dare to do anything for my children. But you need not look like that, Henrietta. I am not going to say anything to him of the kind. He is not quick enough to understand of what infinite service he might be to us without in any way hurting himself.