"I would not follow them at all."
"I will go back if you bid me, but I must first explain what I mean. You know my son's condition,—better, I fear, than he does himself." Roger nodded assent to this, but said nothing. "What is he to do? The only chance for a young man in his position is that he should marry a girl with money. He is good-looking; you can't deny that."
"Nature has done enough for him."
"We must take him as he is. He was put into the army very young, and was very young when he came into possession of his own small fortune. He might have done better; but how many young men placed in such temptations do well? As it is, he has nothing left."
"I fear not."
"And therefore is it not imperative that he should marry a girl with money?"
"I call that stealing a girl's money, Lady Carbury."
"Oh, Roger, how hard you are!"
"A man must be hard or soft,—which is best?"
"With women I think that a little softness has the most effect. I want to make you understand this about the Melmottes. It stands to reason that the girl will not marry Felix unless she loves him."