Part 55 (2/2)
”No, I don't. I am a judge of men. I have seen thousands, and seen them too close to be taken in by their outside. You are the only one of my wife's friends that ever had the run of my study. What do you think of that, now?”
”I am very proud of it, sir; that is all I can find to say.”
”Well, young man, that same good opinion I have of you induces me to do something else, that I have never done for any of your predecessors.”
Mr. Bazalgette paused. David's heart beat. Quick as lightning it darted through his mind, ”He is going to ask a favor for me.
Promotion? Why not? He is a merchant. He has friends in the Company.'”
”I am going to interfere in your concerns, Dodd.”
”You are very good, sir.”
”Well, perhaps I am. I have to overcome a natural reluctance. But you are worth the struggle. I shall therefore go against the usages of the world, which I don't care a b.u.t.ton for, and my own habits, which I care a great deal for, and give you, humph--a piece of friendly advice.”
David looked blank.
”Dodd, my boy, you are playing the fool in this house.”
David looked blanker.
”It is not your fault; you are led into it by one of those sweet creatures that love to reduce men to the level of their own wisdom.
You are in love, or soon will be.”
David colored all over like a girl, and his face of distress was painful to see.
”You need not look so frightened; I am your friend, not your enemy.
And do you really think others besides me have not seen what is going on? Now, Dodd, my dear fellow, I am an old man, and you are a young one. Moreover, I understand the lady, and you don't.”
”That is true, sir; I feel I cannot fathom her.”
”Poor fellow! Well, but I have known her longer than you.”
”That is true, sir.”
”And on closer terms of intimacy.”
”No doubt, sir.”
”Then listen to me. She is all very charming outside, and full of sensibility outside, but she has no more real feeling than a fish. She will go a certain length with you, or with any agreeable young man, but she can always stop where it suits her. No lady in England values position and luxury more than she does, or is less likely to sacrifice them to love, a pa.s.sion she is incapable of. Here, then, is a game at which you run all the risk. No! leave her to puppies like Kenealy; they are her natural prey. You must not play such a heart as yours against a marble taw. It is not an even stake.”
David groaned audibly. His first thought was, ”Eve says the same of her.” His second, ”All the world is against her, poor thing.”
”Is she to bear the blame of my folly?”
”Why not? She is the cause of your folly. It began with her setting her cap at you.”
”No, sir, you do her wrong. She is modesty itself.”
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