"
Mrs. Montgomery dropped her eyes at this, and sat for some time
gazing at the straw matting which covered her floor.
"I suppose it seems to you," said the Doctor, laughing, "that in so
doing I should play your brother a very shabby trick."
"Not at all. That is too much money to get possession of so easily,
by marrying. I don't think it would be right."
"It's right to get all one can. But in this case your brother
wouldn't be able. If Catherine marries without my consent, she
doesn't get a penny from my own pocket."
"Is that certain?" asked Mrs. Montgomery, looking up.
"As certain as that I sit here!"
"Even if she should pine away?"
"Even if she should pine to a shadow, which isn't probable."
"Does Morris know this?"
"I shall be most happy to inform him!" the Doctor exclaimed.
Mrs. Montgomery resumed her meditations, and her visitor, who was
prepared to give time to the affair, asked himself whether, in spite
of her little conscientious air, she was not playing into her
brother's hands. At the same time he was half ashamed of the ordeal
to which he had subjected her, and was touched by the gentleness with
which she bore it. "If she were a humbug," he said, "she would get
angry; unless she be very deep indeed. It is not probable that she
is as deep as that."
"What makes you dislike Morris so much?" she presently asked,
emerging from her reflexions.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114