"Oh, Herbert! I do not know what you mean."
"I mean this: that I expect that Clara shall be received as my wife with open arms—"
"And so she shall be if she comes."
"Or else that some reason should be given me why she should not come. As to income, something must be done, I suppose. If the means at our disposal are less than I have been taught to believe, I at any rate will not complain. But they cannot, I think, be so small as to afford any just reason why I should not marry."
"Your father, you see, is ill, and one can hardly talk to him fully upon such matters at present."
"Then I will speak to Somers. He, at any rate, must know how the property is circumstanced, and I suppose he will not hesitate to tell me."
"I don't think Somers can tell you anything."
"Then what is it? As for the London estate, mother, that is all moonshine. What if it were gone altogether? It may be that it is that which vexes my father; but if so, it is a monomania."
"Oh, my boy, do not use such a word!"
"You know what I mean. If any doubt as to that is creating this despondency, it only shows that though we are bound to respect and relieve my father's state of mind, we are not at all bound to share it. What would it really matter, mother, if that place in London were washed away by the Thames? There is more than enough left for us all, unless—"