"Whose fault is that? Why shouldn't she be happy? Of course you
know what it means. She has got round you because she wants to be a
fine lady. What means have you to make her a fine lady? If you was
to die to-morrow what would there be for any of 'em? My little bit
of money is all gone. Let her stay here and be made to marry
Lawrence Twentyman. That's what I say."
"She will never marry Mr. Twentyman."
"Not if you go on like this she won't. If you'd done your duty by
her like a real father instead of being afraid of her when she puts
on her tantrums; she'd have been at Chowton Farm by this time."
It was clear to him that now was the time not to be afraid of his
wife when she put on her tantrums,--or at any rate, to appear not
to be afraid. "She has been very unhappy of late."
"Oh, unhappy! She's been made more of than anybody else in this
house."
"And a change will do her good. She has my permission to go;--and
go she shall!" Then the word had been spoken.
"She shall!"
"It is very much for the best. While she is here the house is made
wretched for us all."
"It'll be wretcheder yet; unless it would make you happy to see me
dead on the threshold,--which I believe it would. As for her, she's
an ungrateful, sly, wicked slut"
"She has done nothing wicked that I know of."
"Not writing to that old woman behind my back?"
"She told me what she was doing and showed me the letter.
Pages:
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479