(Mrs. Van Brugh falls senseless into a chair, her daughter bending over her.)
ACT III.
Scene: Morning room in Smailey’s house. Door at back, giving on to a pretty garden.
Frederick discovered sealing a letter.
Fred. “Your eternally attached Frederick.” If there was any flaw in Mrs. Van Brugh’s marriage, as my father seems to suspect—and his suspicions are corroborated by her astonishing behavior on his reading her godfather’s will—then Mrs. Van Brugh is penniless—and Eve is penniless too. Poor little lady. I’m afraid I shall have to cry off. I’m sorry for the poor child, because I’m sure she is fond of me. I’m sorry for myself, because I’m sure I’m fond of her. But when a man proposes to marry, he must not allow himself to be misled by his affections. As far as Eve is concerned I see no difficulty. She is a tender-hearted and sensitive little thing, heaven bless her, and can be easily shaken off. But my poor old father; how indignant he will be if I dare to suggest what he would consider a dishonorable course! Why, if he thought me capable of breaking a solemn engagement for a mercenary motive, he’d disown me! No, I must rest my excuse on a surer ground. I must touch his sense of family pride. I must remind him of the blight that would fall on our race, if I intermarried with a tainted family. A really good man does a deal of harm in the world. One has to stoop to so much dirty dissimulation before one can meet him on equal terms.
Enter Mr. Smailey.
Mr. S.} Frederick, I want to speak seriously—
Fred.} Father, I want to speak seriously——
Mr. S. Eh?
Fred. I beg your pardon.