Practice makes
perfect, you know. Now, if I offer myself to Bray as his son-in-law,
upon one simple condition that the moment I am fast married he shall be
quietly released, and have an allowance to live just t'other side the
water like a gentleman (he can't live long, for I have asked his
doctor, and he declares that his complaint is one of the Heart and it
is impossible), and if all the advantages of this condition are properly
stated and dwelt upon to him, do you think he could resist me? And if
he could not resist ME, do you think his daughter could resist HIM?
Shouldn't I have her Mrs Arthur Gride--pretty Mrs Arthur Gride--a
tit-bit--a dainty chick--shouldn't I have her Mrs Arthur Gride in a
week, a month, a day--any time I chose to name?'
'Go on,' said Ralph, nodding his head deliberately, and speaking in
a tone whose studied coldness presented a strange contrast to the
rapturous squeak to which his friend had gradually mounted. 'Go on. You
didn't come here to ask me that.'
'Oh dear, how you talk!' cried old Arthur, edging himself closer still
to Ralph. 'Of course I didn't, I don't pretend I did! I came to ask what
you would take from me, if I prospered with the father, for this debt of
yours.
Pages:
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110