She kept silence, with a look of superiority to all monition.
‘Dolomore,’ pursued her brother, ‘is all very well in his way, but that way isn’t yours. I believe he has a good deal of money, but he has neither brains nor principle. There’s no harm in your observing the nature and habits of such individuals, but don’t allow yourself to forget that they are altogether beneath you.’
‘There’s no need whatever for you to teach me self-respect,’ replied the girl.
‘I’m quite sure of that; but you are inexperienced. On the whole, I do rather wish that you would go less frequently to Mrs Lane’s. It was rather an unfortunate choice of yours. Very much better if you could have got on a good footing with the Barnabys. If you are generally looked upon as belonging to the Lanes’ set it will make it difficult for you to get in with the better people.’
Maud was not to be drawn into argument, and Jasper could only hope that his words would have some weight with her. The Mr Dolomore in question was a young man of rather offensive type—athletic, dandiacal, and half-educated. It astonished Jasper that his sister could tolerate such an empty creature for a moment; who has not felt the like surprise with regard to women’s inclinations? He talked with Dora about it, but she was not in her sister’s confidence.
‘I think you ought to have some influence with her,’ Jasper said.
‘Maud won’t allow anyone to interfere in—her private affairs.’
‘It would be unfortunate if she made me quarrel with her.’
‘Oh, surely there isn’t any danger of that?’
‘I don’t know, she mustn’t be obstinate.’