There is, of course, nothing impossible
in an intelligent young man entertaining a disinterested affection
for you. You are an honest, amiable girl, and an intelligent young
man might easily find it out. But the principal thing that we know
about this young man--who is, indeed, very intelligent--leads us to
suppose that, however much he may value your personal merits, he
values your money more. The principal thing we know about him is
that he has led a life of dissipation, and has spent a fortune of his
own in doing so. That is enough for me, my dear. I wish you to
marry a young man with other antecedents--a young man who could give
positive guarantees. If Morris Townsend has spent his own fortune in
amusing himself, there is every reason to believe that he would spend
yours."
The Doctor delivered himself of these remarks slowly, deliberately,
with occasional pauses and prolongations of accent, which made no
great allowance for poor Catherine's suspense as to his conclusion.
She sat down at last, with her head bent and her eyes still fixed
upon him; and strangely enough--I hardly know how to tell it--even
while she felt that what he said went so terribly against her, she
admired his neatness and nobleness of expression. There was
something hopeless and oppressive in having to argue with her father;
but she too, on her side, must try to be clear. He was so quiet; he
was not at all angry; and she too must be quiet.
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