"
"I am living on the remnants of my property," said Morris Townsend.
"Thank you!" the Doctor gravely replied.
Yes, certainly, Morris's self-control was laudable. "Even admitting
I attach an undue importance to Miss Sloper's fortune," he went on,
"would not that be in itself an assurance that I should take much
care of it?"
"That you should take too much care would be quite as bad as that you
should take too little. Catherine might suffer as much by your
economy as by your extravagance."
"I think you are very unjust!" The young man made this declaration
decently, civilly, without violence.
"It is your privilege to think so, and I surrender my reputation to
you! I certainly don't flatter myself I gratify you."
"Don't you care a little to gratify your daughter? Do you enjoy the
idea of making her miserable?"
"I am perfectly resigned to her thinking me a tyrant for a
twelvemonth."
"For a twelvemonth!" exclaimed Morris, with a laugh.
"For a lifetime, then! She may as well be miserable in that way as
in the other."
Here at last Morris lost his temper. "Ah, you are not polite, sir!"
he cried.
"You push me to it--you argue too much."
"I have a great deal at stake."
"Well, whatever it is," said the Doctor, "you have lost it!"
"Are you sure of that?" asked Morris; "are you sure your daughter
will give me up?"
"I mean, of course, you have lost it as far as I am concerned.
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