“Godfrey!” cried Edna, in horror. “Do you think I would permit my daughter—our daughter—to know such things! Why, her mind is as pure——”
I could not restrain a gesture of disgust. “You women!” I cried, rising. “Pure! Pure—God in Heaven, pure!”
Her look of dazed astonishment, obviously sincere, helped me to get back my composure. I sat down again. “I beg your pardon,” I said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Even if you men have no purity yourselves, you ought to believe in it in women,” said she, with an injured air.
“Yes, indeed,” I agreed heartily. “I congratulate you on being able to make such generous allowances for masculine frailty.”
“You are sarcastic,” said she coldly.
“No matter. It certainly does not damage the title—perhaps adds to its luster.”
“It’s hereditary in their family to be wild up to marriage, and then to settle down and serve the state in some distinguished position.”
“Oh—in that case—” said I ironically.
“Margot and her husband and her children will have your money some day,” pursued she. “Why not give it to her now, when it will get her happiness?”