Part 13 (1/2)
”Yes;--and to hand me over to a griffin.”
”The truth is, Violet, that you do not know Oswald. He is not a griffin.”
”I did not mean to be uncomplimentary. Take any of the dangerous wild beasts you please. I merely intend to point out that he is a dangerous wild beast. I daresay he is n.o.ble-minded, and I will call him a lion if you like it better. But even with a lion there is risk.”
”Of course there will be risk. There is risk with every man,--unless you will be contented with the prig you described. Of course there would be risk with my brother. He has been a gambler.”
”They say he is one still.”
”He has given it up in part, and would entirely at your instance.”
”And they say other things of him, Laura.”
”It is true. He has had paroxysms of evil life which have well-nigh ruined him.”
”And these paroxysms are so dangerous! Is he not in debt?”
”He is,--but not deeply. Every s.h.i.+lling that he owes would be paid;--every s.h.i.+lling. Mind, I know all his circ.u.mstances, and I give you my word that every s.h.i.+lling should be paid. He has never lied,--and he has told me everything. His father could not leave an acre away from him if he would, and would not if he could.”
”I did not ask as fearing that. I spoke only of a dangerous habit. A paroxysm of spending money is apt to make one so uncomfortable. And then--”
”Well.”
”I don't know why I should make a catalogue of your brother's weaknesses.”
”You mean to say that he drinks too much?”
”I do not say so. People say so. The dragon says so. And as I always find her sayings to be untrue, I suppose this is like the rest of them.”
”It is untrue if it be said of him as a habit.”
”It is another paroxysm,--just now and then.”
”Do not laugh at me, Violet, when I am taking his part, or I shall be offended.”
”But you see, if I am to be his wife, it is--rather important.”
”Still you need not ridicule me.”
”Dear Laura, you know I do not ridicule you. You know I love you for what you are doing. Would not I do the same, and fight for him down to my nails if I had a brother?”
”And therefore I want you to be Oswald's wife;--because I know that you would fight for him. It is not true that he is a--drunkard. Look at his hand, which is as steady as yours. Look at his eye. Is there a sign of it? He has been drunk, once or twice, perhaps,--and has done fearful things.”
”It might be that he would do fearful things to me.”
”You never knew a man with a softer heart or with a finer spirit. I believe as I sit here that if he were married to-morrow, his vices would fall from him like old clothes.”
”You will admit, Laura, that there will be some risk for the wife.”
”Of course there will be a risk. Is there not always a risk?”
”The men in the city would call this double-dangerous, I think,” said Violet. Then the door was opened, and the man of whom they were speaking entered the room.