"I have half a mind to go back to-morrow morning," Felix said to his mother that Sunday evening after dinner. At that moment Roger was walking round the garden by himself, and Henrietta was in her own room.
"To-morrow morning, Felix! You are engaged to dine with the Longestaffes!"
"You could make any excuse you like about that."
"It would be the most uncourteous thing in the world. The Longestaffes you know are the leading people in this part of the country. No one knows what may happen. If you should ever be living at Carbury, how sad it would be that you should have quarrelled with them."
"You forget, mother, that Dolly Longestaffe is about the most intimate friend I have in the world."
"That does not justify you in being uncivil to the father and mother. And you should remember what you came here for."
"What did I come for?"
"That you might see Marie Melmotte more at your ease than you can in their London house."
"That's all settled," said Sir Felix, in the most indifferent tone that he could assume.
"Settled!"