He says he and you don't care what they
say, but I know better! He may not care-probably he's that kind--but
you do. There never was an Amberson yet that would let the Amberson
name go trailing in the dust like that! It's the proudest name in
this town and it's going to stay the proudest; and I tell you that's
the deepest thing in my nature-not that I'd expect Eugene Morgan to
understand--the very deepest thing in my nature is to protect that
name, and to fight for it to the last breath when danger threatens it,
as it does now--through my mother!" He turned from her, striding up
and down and tossing his arms about, in a tumult of gesture. "I can't
believe it of you, that you'd think of such a sacrilege! That's what
it would be--sacrilege! When he talks about your unselfishness toward
me, he's right--you have been unselfish and you have been a perfect
mother. But what about him? Is it unselfish of him to want you to
throw away your good name just to please him? That's all he asks of
you--and to quit being my mother! Do you think I can believe you
really care for him? I don't! You are my mother and you're an
Amberson--and I believe you're too proud! You're too proud to care
for a man who could write such a letter as that!" He stopped, faced
her, and spoke with more self-control: "Well, what are you going to
do about it, mother?"
George was right about his mother's being proud.
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