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decanter。 Suffer that to circulate； let your spirits be never so
stagnant。’
Edward begged his pardon； passed it； and relapsed into his
former state。
‘You do wrong not to fill your glass；’ said Mr Chester； holding
up his own before the light。 ‘Wine in moderation—not in excess；
for that makes men ugly—has a thousand pleasant influences。 It
brightens the eye； improves the voice； imparts a new vivacity to
one’s thoughts and conversation： you should try it； Ned。’
‘Ah father！’ cried his son； ‘if—’
‘My good fellow；’ interposed the parent hastily； as he set down
his glass； and raised his eyebrows with a startled and horrified
expression； ‘for Heaven’s sake don’t call me by that obsolete and
ancient name。 Have some regard for delicacy。 Am I grey； or
wrinkled； do I go on crutches； have I lost my teeth； that you adopt
such a mode of address？ Good God； how very coarse！’
‘I was about to speak to you from my heart； sir；’ returned
Edward； ‘in the confidence which should subsist between us； and
you check me in the outset。’
‘Now do； Ned； do not；’ said Mr Chester； raising his delicate hand
imploringly； ‘talk in that monstrous manner。 About to speak from
your heart。 Don’t you know that the heart is an ingenious part of
our formation—the centre of the blood…vessels and all that sort of
thing—which has no more to do with what you say or think； than
your knees have？ How can you be so very vulgar and absurd？
These anatomical allusions should be left to gentlemen of the
medical profession。 They are really not agreeable in society。 You
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quite surprise me； Ned。’
‘Well！ there are no such things to wound； or heal； or have
regard for。 I know your creed； sir； and will say no more；’ returned
his son。
‘There again；’ said Mr Chester； sipping his wine； ‘you are
wrong。 I distinctly say there are such things。 We know there are。
The hearts of animals—of bullocks； sheep； and so forth—are
cooked and devoured； as I am told； by the lower classes； with a
vast deal of relish。 Men are sometimes stabbed to the heart； shot to
the heart； but as to speaking from the heart； or to the heart； or
being warm…hearted； or cold…hearted； or broken…hearted； or being
all heart； or having no heart—pah！ these things are nonsense；
Ned。’
‘No doubt； sir；’ returned his son； seeing that he paused for him
to speak。 ‘No doubt。’
‘There’s Haredale’s niece； your late flame；’ said Mr Chester； as
a careless illustration of his meaning。 ‘No doubt in your mind she
was all heart once。 Now she has none at all。 Yet she is the same
person； Ned； exactly。’
‘She is a changed person； sir；’ cried Edward； reddening； ‘and
changed by vile means； I believe。’
‘You have had a cool dismissal； have you？’ said his father。 ‘Poor
Ned！ I told you last night what would happen。—May I ask you for
the nutcrackers？’
‘She has been tampered with； and most treacherously
deceived；’ cried Edward； rising from his seat。 ‘I never will believe
that the knowledge of my real position； given her by myself； has
worked this change。 I know she is beset and tortured。 But though
our contract is at an end； and broken past all redemption； though I
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charge upon her want of firmness and want of truth； both to
herself and me； I do not now； and never will believe； that any
sordid motive； or her own unbiassed will； has led her to this
course—never！’
‘You make me blush；’ returned his father gaily； ‘for the folly of
your nature； in which—but we never know ourselves—I devoutly
hope there is no reflection of my own。 With regard to the young
lady herself； she has done what is very natural and proper； my
dear fellow； what you yourself proposed； as I learn from Haredale；
and what I predicted—with no great exercise of sagacity—she
would do。 She supposed you to be rich； or at least quite rich
enough； and found you poor。 Marriage is a civil contract； people
marry to better their worldly condition and improve appearances；
it is an affair of house and furniture； of liveries； servants； equipage；
and so forth。 The lady being poor and you poor also； there is an
end of the matter。 You cannot enter upon these considerations；
and have no manner of business with the ceremony。 I drink her
health in this glass； and respect and honour her for her extreme
good sense。 It is a lesson to you。 Fill yours； Ned。’
‘It is a lesson；’ returned his son； ‘by which I hope I may never
profit； and if years and experience impress it on—’
‘Don’t say on the heart；’ interposed his father。
‘On men whom the world and its hypocrisy have spoiled；’ said
Edward warmly； ‘Heaven keep me from its knowledge。’
‘Come； sir；’ returned his father； raising himself a little on the
sofa； and looking straight towards him； ‘we have had enough of
this。 Remember； if you please； your interest； your duty； your moral
obligations； your filial affections； and all that sort of thing； which it
is so very delightful and charming to reflect upon； or you will
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repent it。’
‘I shall never repent the preservation of my self…respect； sir；’
said Edward。 ‘Forgive me if I say that I will not sacrifice it at your
bidding； and that I will not pursue the track which you would have
me take； and to which the secret share you have had in this late
separation tends。’
His father rose a little higher still； and looking at him as though
curious to know if he were quite resolved and earnest； dropped
ge