BILL. I didn't bring myself up.
SIR WILLIAM. [With a movement of uncontrolled anger, to which his son responds] You—ungrateful young dog!
LADY CHESHIRE. How can you—both?
[They drop their eyes, and stand silent.]
SIR WILLIAM. [With grimly suppressed emotion] I am speaking under the stress of very great pain—some consideration is due to me. This is a disaster which I never expected to have to face. It is a matter which I naturally can never hope to forget. I shall carry this down to my death. We shall all of us do that. I have had the misfortune all my life to believe in our position here—to believe that we counted for something—that the country wanted us. I have tried to do my duty by that position. I find in one moment that it is gone— smoke—gone. My philosophy is not equal to that. To countenance this marriage would be unnatural.
BILL. I know. I'm sorry. I've got her into this—I don't see any other way out. It's a bad business for me, father, as well as for you——
He stops, seeing that JACKSON has route in, and is standing
there waiting.
JACKSON. Will you speak to Studdenham, Sir William? It's about young Dunning.
After a moment of dead silence, SIR WILLIAM nods, and the butler
withdraws.
BILL. [Stolidly] He'd better be told.
SIR WILLIAM. He shall be.