“Come sit here by me, dear,” she said. “It's not easy to explain such things to one so young. Marcel has never expected to marry me. He has no money and he knows that I have none.”
“But I don't understand. Would Robbie stop giving you money if you married?”
“No, dear, I don't mean that. But I can't always live on what Robbie gives me.”
“But why not, Beauty? Aren't we getting along all right?”
“You don't know about my affairs. I have an awful lot of debts; they drive me to distraction.”
“But why can't we go and live quietly at Bienvenu and not spend so much money?”
“I can't shut myself up like that, Lanny — I'm just not made for it. I'd have to give up all my friends, I couldn't travel anywhere, I couldn't entertain. And you wouldn't have any education — you wouldn't see the world as you've been doing —”
“Oh, please don't do it on my account!” the boy broke in. “I'd be perfectly happy to stay home and read books and play the piano.”
“You think you would, dear; but that's because you don't know enough about life. People like us have to have money and opportunities — so many things you will find that you want.”
“If I do, I can go to work and get them for myself, can't I?”