Part 46 (1/2)
”That was so kind of you.”
”I thought that I could explain to you more openly and more freely, what his intentions really are.”
”Oh! I have no doubt that they are honourable,” said Miss Dunstable.
”He does not want to deceive me in that way, I am quite sure.”
It was impossible to help laughing, and Mrs. Harold Smith did laugh.
”Upon my word, you would provoke a saint,” said she.
”I am not likely to get into any such company by the alliance that you are now suggesting to me. There are not many saints usually at Chaldicotes, I believe;--always excepting my dear bishop and his wife.”
”But, my dear, what am I to say to Nathaniel?”
”Tell him, of course, how much obliged to him I am.”
”Do listen to me one moment. I daresay that I have done wrong to speak to you in such a bold, unromantic way.”
”Not at all. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
That's what we agreed upon. But one's first efforts in any line are always apt to be a little uncouth.”
”I will send Nathaniel to you himself.”
”No, do not do so. Why torment either him or me? I do like your brother; in a certain way I like him much. But no earthly consideration would induce me to marry him. Is it not so glaringly plain that he would marry me for my money only, that you have not even dared to suggest any other reason?”
”Of course it would have been nonsense to say that he had no regard whatever towards your money.”
”Of course it would--absolute nonsense. He is a poor man with a good position, and he wants to marry me because I have got that which he wants. But, my dear, I do not want that which he has got, and therefore the bargain would not be a fair one.”
”But he would do his very best to make you happy.”
”I am so much obliged to him; but you see, I am very happy as I am.
What should I gain?”
”A companion whom you confess that you like.”
”Ah! but I don't know that I should like too much even of such a companion as your brother. No, my dear--it won't do. Believe me when I tell you, once for all, that it won't do.”
”Do you mean, then, Miss Dunstable, that you'll never marry?”
”To-morrow--if I met any one that I fancied, and he would have me.
But I rather think that any that I may fancy won't have me. In the first place, if I marry any one, the man must be quite indifferent to money.”
”Then you'll not find him in this world, my dear.”
”Very possibly not,” said Miss Dunstable.
All that was further said upon the subject need not be here repeated.
Mrs. Harold Smith did not give up her cause quite at once, although Miss Dunstable had spoken so plainly. She tried to explain how eligible would be her friend's situation as mistress of Chaldicotes, when Chaldicotes should owe no penny to any man: and went so far as to hint that the master of Chaldicotes, if relieved of his embarra.s.sments and known as a rich man, might in all probability be found worthy of a peerage when the G.o.ds should return to Olympus. Mr.
Harold Smith, as a cabinet minister, would, of course, do his best.