"I am quite charmed," said the father rising, and walking slowly toand fro--stopping now and then to glance at himself in the mirror,or survey a picture through his glass, with the air of aconnoisseur, "that we have had this conversation, Ned, unpromisingas it was. It establishes a confidence between us which is quitedelightful, and was certainly necessary, though how you can everhave mistaken our positions and designs, I confess I cannotunderstand. I conceived, until I found your fancy for this girl,that all these points were tacitly agreed upon between us."
"I knew you were embarrassed, sir," returned the son, raising his head for a moment, and then falling into his former attitude, "butI had no idea we were the beggared wretches you describe. Howcould I suppose it, bred as I have been; witnessing the life youhave always led; and the appearance you have always made?"
"My dear child," said the father--"for you really talk so like achild that I must call you one--you were bred upon a carefulprinciple; the very manner of your education, I assure you,maintained my credit surprisingly. As to the life I lead, I mustlead it, Ned. I must have these little refinements about me. Ihave always been used to them, and I cannot exist without them.
They must surround me, you observe, and therefore they are here.
With regard to our circumstances, Ned, you may set your mind atrest upon that score. They are desperate. Your own appearance isby no means despicable, and our joint pocket-money alone devoursour income. That"s the truth."
"Why have I never known this before? Why have you encouraged me,sir, to an expenditure and mode of life to which we have no rightor title?"
"My good fellow," returned his father more compassionately thanever, "if you made no appearance, how could you possibly succeed in the pursuit for which I destined you? As to our mode of life,every man has a right to live in the best way he can; and to makehimself as comfortable as he can, or he is an unnatural scoundrel.
Our debts, I grant, are very great, and therefore it the morebehoves you, as a young man of principle and honour, to pay themoff as speedily as possible."
"The villain"s part," muttered Edward, "that I have unconsciouslyplayed! I to win the heart of Emma Haredale! I would, for hersake, I had died first!"
"I am glad you see, Ned," returned his father, "how perfectly self-evident it is, that nothing can be done in that quarter. But apartfrom this, and the necessity of your speedily bestowing yourselfon another (as you know you could to-morrow, if you chose), I wishyou"d look upon it pleasantly. In a religious point of view alone,how could you ever think of uniting yourself to a Catholic, unlessshe was amazingly rich? You ought to be so very Protestant,coming of such a Protestant family as you do. Let us be moral,Ned, or we are nothing. Even if one could set that objectionaside, which is impossible, we come to another which is quiteconclusive. The very idea of marrying a girl whose father waskilled, like meat! Good God, Ned, how disagreeable! Consider the impossibility of having any respect for your father-in-law undersuch unpleasant circumstances--think of his having been "viewed" byjurors, and "sat upon" by coroners, and of his very doubtfulposition in the family ever afterwards. It seems to me such anindelicate sort of thing that I really think the girl ought to havebeen put to death by the state to prevent its happening. But Itease you perhaps. You would rather be alone? My dear Ned, mostwillingly. God bless you. I shall be going out presently, but weshall meet to-night, or if not to-night, certainly to-morrow.
Take care of yourself in the mean time, for both our sakes. Youare a person of great consequence to me, Ned--of vast consequenceindeed. God bless you!"
With these words, the father, who had been arranging his cravat inthe glass, while he uttered them in a disconnected careless manner,withdrew, humming a tune as he went. The son, who had appeared solost in thought as not to hear or understand them, remained quitestill and silent. After the lapse of half an hour or so, the elderChester, gaily dressed, went out. The younger still sat with hishead resting on his hands, in what appeared to be a kind of stupor.