'
'Very well said, Nita. Then it was wrong of me to be friendly, and right
of him to make a dunce of himself.'
'Perhaps if you had ever felt as he does, Freda, you might make some
excuse for him.'
'I am sure you must have been in love a hundred times, you are so
sentimental, and would like to see him run away with me.'
'Quite wrong again.'
'Then what would you like, for I am sure you don't approve of my
conduct?'
'Simply, that you should have treated a clergyman and a gentleman as
such, and at least felt grateful that a good and honest heart was
offered to you, even though you would not accept it.'
'But I don't believe in the heart, you see, Serena. There is not a more
mercenary race under the sun than the clergy. They all marry for money.
I can mention quite a dozen; his own uncle at the head of them. Now, you
cannot suppose that he married Mrs Jonathan Prothero for anything but
her fortune and her family.'
'I think he is too simple-minded a man to have considered either the one
or the other.'
'Then why didn't he marry some simple-minded girl, his equal? No, you
are quite out of your depth now, Serena. Depend upon it, that Rowland
Prothero will soon find some English lady just as rich as _I am to
be_--always provided that Lady Mary Nugent doesn't carry off papa, and
get him to leave her the property.
Pages:
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300