"It seems to me that I ought to be very much
offended with you," she murmured.
"Because I have offered you money? That's a superstition," said the
Doctor. "You must let me come and see you again, and we will talk
about these things. I suppose that some of your children are girls."
"I have two little girls," said Mrs. Montgomery.
"Well, when they grow up, and begin to think of taking husbands, you
will see how anxious you will be about the moral character of these
gentlemen. Then you will understand this visit of mine!"
"Ah, you are not to believe that Morris's moral character is bad!"
The Doctor looked at her a little, with folded arms. "There is
something I should greatly like--as a moral satisfaction. I should
like to hear you say--'He is abominably selfish!'"
The words came out with the grave distinctness of his voice, and they
seemed for an instant to create, to poor Mrs. Montgomery's troubled
vision, a material image. She gazed at it an instant, and then she
turned away. "You distress me, sir!" she exclaimed. "He is, after
all, my brother, and his talents, his talents--" On these last words
her voice quavered, and before he knew it she had burst into tears.
"His talents are first-rate!" said the Doctor. "We must find a
proper field for them!" And he assured her most respectfully of his
regret at having so greatly discomposed her. "It's all for my poor
Catherine," he went on.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119