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retinue of idiots and centaurs；—whether the voluntary endurance
of these things looks like indifference； dear Ned； or like the
excessive anxiety； and devotion； and all that sort of thing； of a
parent； you shall determine for yourself。’
‘I wish you to consider； sir；’ said Edward； ‘in what a cruel
situation I am placed。 Loving Miss Haredale as I do’—
‘My dear fellow；’ interrupted his father with a compassionate
smile； ‘you do nothing of the kind。 You don’t know anything about
it。 There’s no such thing； I assure you。 Now； do take my word for
it。 You have good sense； Ned；—great good sense。 I wonder you
should be guilty of such amazing absurdities。 You really surprise
me。’
‘I repeat；’ said his son firmly； ‘that I love her。 You have
interposed to part us； and have； to the extent I have just now told
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you of； succeeded。 May I induce you； sir； in time； to think more
favourably of our attachment； or is it your intention and your fixed
design to hold us asunder if you can？’
‘My dear Ned；’ returned his father； taking a pinch of snuff and
pushing his box towards him； ‘that is my purpose most
undoubtedly。’
‘The time that has elapsed；’ rejoined his son； ‘since I began to
know her worth； has flown in such a dream that until now I have
hardly once paused to reflect upon my true position。 What is it？
From my childhood I have been accustomed to luxury and
idleness； and have been bred as though my fortune were large；
and my expectations almost without a limit。 The idea of wealth has
been familiarised to me from my cradle。 I have been taught to look
upon those means； by which men raise themselves to riches and
distinction； as being beyond my heeding； and beneath my care。 I
have been； as the phrase is； liberally educated； and am fit for
nothing。 I find myself at last wholly dependent upon you； with no
resource but in your favour。 In this momentous question of my life
we do not； and it would seem we never can； agree。 I have shrunk
instinctively alike from those to whom you have urged me to pay
court； and from the motives of interest and gain which have
rendered them in your eyes visible objects for my suit。 If there
never has been thus much plain…speaking between us before； sir；
the fault has not been mine； indeed。 If I seem to speak too plainly
now； it is； believe me father； in the hope that there may be a
franker spirit； a worthier reliance； and a kinder confidence
between us in time to come。’
‘My good fellow；’ said his smiling father； ‘you quite affect me。
Go on； my dear Edward； I beg。 But remember your promise。
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There is great earnestness； vast candour； a manifest sincerity in all
you say； but I fear I observe the faintest indications of a tendency
to prose。’
‘I am very sorry； sir。’
‘I am very sorry； too； Ned； but you know that I cannot fix my
mind for any long period upon one subject。 If you’ll come to the
point at once； I’ll imagine all that ought to go before； and conclude
it said。 Oblige me with the milk again。 Listening； invariably makes
me feverish。’
‘What I would say then； tends to this；’ said Edward。 ‘I cannot
bear this absolute dependence； sir； even upon you。 Time has been
lost and opportunity thrown away； but I am yet a young man； and
may retrieve it。 Will you give me the means of devoting such
abilities and energies as I possess； to some worthy pursuit？ Will
you let me try to make for myself an honourable path in life？ For
any term you please to name—say for five years if you will—I will
pledge myself to move no further in the matter of our difference
without your fall concurrence。 During that period； I will
endeavour earnestly and patiently； if ever man did； to open some
prospect for myself； and free you from the burden you fear I
should become if I married one whose worth and beauty are her
chief endowments。 Will you do this； sir？ At the expiration of the
term we agree upon； let us discuss this subject again。 Till then；
unless it is revived by you； let it never be renewed between us。’
‘My dear Ned；’ returned his father； laying down the newspaper
at which he had been glancing carelessly； and throwing himself
back in the window…seat； ‘I believe you know how very much I
dislike what are called family affairs； which are only fit for
plebeian Christmas days； and have no manner of business with
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people of our condition。 But as you are proceeding upon a
mistake； Ned—altogether upon a mistake—I will conquer my
repugnance to entering on such matters； and give you a perfectly
plain and candid answer； if you will do me the favour to shut the
door。’
Edward having obeyed him； he took an elegant little knife from
his pocket； and paring his nails； continued：
‘You have to thank me； Ned； for being of good family； for your
mother； charming person as she was； and almost broken…hearted；
and so forth； as she left me； when she was prematurely compelled
to become immortal—had nothing to boast of in that respect。’
‘Her father was at least an eminent lawyer； sir；’ said Edward。
‘Quite right； Ned； perfectly so。 He stood high at the bar； had a
great name and great wealth； but having risen from nothing—I
have always closed my eyes to the circumstance and steadily
resisted its contemplation； but I fear his father dealt in pork； and
that his business did once involve cow…heel and sausages—he
wished to marry his daughter into a good family。 He ha