Ayala's Angel [147]
with her everywhere, going to the meets with him and coming home. And in this way she got him to propose to her. I don't suppose he means anything; but that is why she won't have anything to do with Tom now. Do you mean to say she didn't do all she could to catch Tom down at Glenbogie, and then at Rome? Everybody saw it. I don't think Lucy has ever been so bad as that."
"It's quite different, my dear."
"She has come from a low father," said the Honourable Mrs Traffick, proudly, "and therefore she has naturally attached herself to a low young man. There is nothing to be wondered at in that. I suppose they are fond of each other, and the sooner they are married the better."
"But he can't marry her because he has got nothing."
"Papa will do something."
"That's just what your papa won't. The man has been to your father in the City and there has been ever such a row. He spoke ill of me because I endeavoured to do my duty by the ungrateful girl. I am sure I have got a lesson as to taking up other people's children. I endeavoured to do an act of charity, and see what has come of it. I don't believe in charity."
"That is wicked, mamma. Faith, Hope, and Charity! But you've got to be charitable before you begin the others."
"I don't think it is wicked. People would do best if they were made to go along on what they've got of their own." This seemed to Augusta to be a direct blow at Septimus and herself. "Of course I know what you mean, mamma."
"I didn't mean anything."
"But, if people can't stay for a few weeks in their own parents' houses, I don't know where they are to stay."
"It isn't weeks, Augusta; it's months. And as to parents, Lord Boardotrade is Mr Traffick's parent. Why doesn't he go and stay with Lord Boardotrade?" Then Augusta got up and marched with stately step out of the room. After this it was not possible that Lucy would find much immediate grace in her aunt's eyes. From the moment that Lucy had received her letter there came upon her the great burden of answering it. She was very anxious to do exactly as Hamel had counselled her. She was quite alive to the fact that Hamel had been imprudent in Lombard Street; but not the less was she desirous to do as he bade her -- thinking it right that a woman should obey someone, and that her obedience could be due only to him. But in order to obey him she must consult her aunt. "Aunt Emmeline," she said that afternoon, "I want to ask you something."
"What is it now?" said Aunt Emmeline, crossly.
"About Mr Hamel."
"I don't want to hear any more about Mr Hamel. I have heard quite enough of Mr Hamel."
"Of course I am engaged to him, Aunt Emmeline."
"So I hear you say. I do not think it very dutiful of you to come and talk to me about him, knowing as you do what I think about him."
"What I want to ask is this. Ought I to stay here or ought I to go away?"
"I never heard such a girl! Where are you to go to? What makes you ask the question?"
"Because you said that I ought to go if I did not give him up." "You ought to give him up."
"I cannot do that, aunt."
"Then you had better hold your tongue and say nothing further about it. I don't believe he earns enough to give you bread to eat and decent clothes to wear. What would you do if children were to come year after year? If you really love him I wonder how you can think of being such a millstone round a man's neck!" This was very hard to bear. It was so different from the delicious comfort of his letter. "I do not for a moment believe that we should want." "I have never for one moment doubted my own ultimate success." But after all was there not more of truth in her aunt's words, hard and cruel as they were? And on these words, such as they were, she must found her answer to her lover; for he had bade her ask her aunt what she was to do as to staying or preparing herself for an immediate marriage. Then, before the afternoon was over, she wrote to Hamel as follows:
DEAR ISADORE,
I have got ever so much to say, but I shall begin by doing as you told
"It's quite different, my dear."
"She has come from a low father," said the Honourable Mrs Traffick, proudly, "and therefore she has naturally attached herself to a low young man. There is nothing to be wondered at in that. I suppose they are fond of each other, and the sooner they are married the better."
"But he can't marry her because he has got nothing."
"Papa will do something."
"That's just what your papa won't. The man has been to your father in the City and there has been ever such a row. He spoke ill of me because I endeavoured to do my duty by the ungrateful girl. I am sure I have got a lesson as to taking up other people's children. I endeavoured to do an act of charity, and see what has come of it. I don't believe in charity."
"That is wicked, mamma. Faith, Hope, and Charity! But you've got to be charitable before you begin the others."
"I don't think it is wicked. People would do best if they were made to go along on what they've got of their own." This seemed to Augusta to be a direct blow at Septimus and herself. "Of course I know what you mean, mamma."
"I didn't mean anything."
"But, if people can't stay for a few weeks in their own parents' houses, I don't know where they are to stay."
"It isn't weeks, Augusta; it's months. And as to parents, Lord Boardotrade is Mr Traffick's parent. Why doesn't he go and stay with Lord Boardotrade?" Then Augusta got up and marched with stately step out of the room. After this it was not possible that Lucy would find much immediate grace in her aunt's eyes. From the moment that Lucy had received her letter there came upon her the great burden of answering it. She was very anxious to do exactly as Hamel had counselled her. She was quite alive to the fact that Hamel had been imprudent in Lombard Street; but not the less was she desirous to do as he bade her -- thinking it right that a woman should obey someone, and that her obedience could be due only to him. But in order to obey him she must consult her aunt. "Aunt Emmeline," she said that afternoon, "I want to ask you something."
"What is it now?" said Aunt Emmeline, crossly.
"About Mr Hamel."
"I don't want to hear any more about Mr Hamel. I have heard quite enough of Mr Hamel."
"Of course I am engaged to him, Aunt Emmeline."
"So I hear you say. I do not think it very dutiful of you to come and talk to me about him, knowing as you do what I think about him."
"What I want to ask is this. Ought I to stay here or ought I to go away?"
"I never heard such a girl! Where are you to go to? What makes you ask the question?"
"Because you said that I ought to go if I did not give him up." "You ought to give him up."
"I cannot do that, aunt."
"Then you had better hold your tongue and say nothing further about it. I don't believe he earns enough to give you bread to eat and decent clothes to wear. What would you do if children were to come year after year? If you really love him I wonder how you can think of being such a millstone round a man's neck!" This was very hard to bear. It was so different from the delicious comfort of his letter. "I do not for a moment believe that we should want." "I have never for one moment doubted my own ultimate success." But after all was there not more of truth in her aunt's words, hard and cruel as they were? And on these words, such as they were, she must found her answer to her lover; for he had bade her ask her aunt what she was to do as to staying or preparing herself for an immediate marriage. Then, before the afternoon was over, she wrote to Hamel as follows:
DEAR ISADORE,
I have got ever so much to say, but I shall begin by doing as you told