"Well, you know," he said, hesitating—"you know I suggested yesterday we should sell some land to do up the house. I am afraid we must sell the laud, and pay this scoundrel—a proportion, at all events. Of course, what I should like to do would be to put him—and the other—to instant death, with appropriate tortures! Short of that, I can only take the matter out of my mother's hands, get a sharp solicitor on my side to match his rascal, and make the best bargain I can."
Letty rolled up her work with energy, two tears of anger on her cheeks. "She ought to suffer!" she cried, her voice trembling—"she ought to suffer!"
"You mean that we ought to let her be made a bankrupt?" he said coolly. "Well, no doubt it would be salutary. Only, I am afraid it would be rather more disagreeable to us than to her. Suppose we consider the situation. Two young married people—charming house—charming wife—husband just beginning in politics—people inclined to be friends. Then you go to dine with them in Brook Street—excellent little French dinner—bride bewitching. Next morning you see the bankruptcy of the host's mamma in the 'Times.' 'And he's the only son, isn't he?—he must be well off. They say she's been dreadfully extravagant. But, hang it! you know, a man's mother!—and a widow—no, I can't stand that. Sha'n't dine with them again!' There! do you see, darling? Do you really want to rub all the bloom off the peach?"
He had hardly finished his little speech before the odiousness of it struck himself.
"Am I come to talking to her like this?" he asked himself in a kind of astonishment.
But Letty, apparently, was not astonished.
"Everybody would understand if you refused to ruin yourself by going on paying these frightful debts. I am sure something could be done," she said, half choked.
George shook his head.
"But everybody wouldn't want to understand. The dear world loves a scandal—doesn't really like being amiable to newcomers at all. You would make a bad start, dear—and all the world would pity mamma."
"Oh! if you are only thinking what people would say," cried Letty.