'Well, my love, the thing is so seriously matter-of-fact, that it is better to look at it in a matter-of-fact way.I don't want your father to die.'
'I hope not.I hope not.'
'But I should be very glad to learn what he means to do while he lives.I want to get you into sympathy with me on this matter;--but it is so difficult.'
'Indeed I sympathise with you.'
'The truth is that he has taken an aversion to Everett.'
'God forbid!'
'I am doing all I can to prevent it.But if he does throw Everett over we ought to have advantage of it.There is no harm in saying as much as that.Think what it should be if he should take it into his head to leave his money to hospitals.My G-;fancy what my condition would be if I were to hear of such a will as that! If he destroyed the old will.Partly because he didn't like our marriage, and partly in anger against Everett, and then die without making another, the property would be divided,--unless he bought land.You see how many dangers there are.Oh dear! I can look forward and see myself mad,--or else myself so proudly triumphant!' All this horrified her, but he did not see her horror.He knew that she disliked it, but thought that disliked the trouble, and that she dreaded her father.'Now I do think that you could help me a little,' he continued.
'What can I do?'
'Get round him when he's a little down in the mouth.That is the way in which old men are conquered.' How utterly ignorant he was of the very nature of her mind and disposition! To be told by her husband that she was to 'get round' her father! 'You should see him every day.He would be delighted if you would go to him at his chambers.Or you could take care to be in the Square when he comes home.I don't know whether we had not better leave this and go an live near him.Would you mind that?'
'I would do anything you suggest as to living anywhere.'
'But you won't do anything I suggest as to your father.'
'As to my being with him, if I thought he wished it,--though Ihad to walk my feet off, I would go to him.'
'There's no need of hurting your feet.There's the brougham.'
'I do so wish, Ferdinand, you would discontinue the brougham.Idon't at all want it.I don't at all dislike cabs.And I was only joking about walking.I walk very well.'
'Certainly not.You fail altogether to understand my ideas about things.If things were going bad with us, I would infinitely prefer getting a pair of horses for you to putting down the one you have.' She certainly did not understand his ideas.
'Whatever we do we must hold our heads up.I think he is coming round to cotton to me.He is very close, but I can see that he likes my going to him.Of course, as he gets older from day to day, he'll constantly want someone to lean on more than heretofore.'
'I would go and stay with him if he wanted me.'
'I have thought of that too.Now that would be a saving,--without any fall.And if we were both there we could hardly fail to know what he was doing.You could offer that, couldn't you?
You could say as much as that?'
'I could ask him if he wished it.'
'Just so.Say that it occurs to you that he is lonely by himself, and that we will both go to the Square at a moment's notice if he thinks it will make him comfortable.I feel sure that that will be the best step to take.I have already had an offer for these rooms, and could get rid of the things we have bought to advantage.'