'
'That is just what I mean.'
'But when the question becomes one of practising,--a question for
our lives, for our happiness, for our own conduct, then, knowing
what must be the feelings of an aristocracy in such a country as
this, I am prepared to admit that your father would be as well
justified in objecting to a marriage between a child of his and a
child of mine, as I should be in objecting to one between my child
and the son of some mechanic in our native city.'
'He wouldn't be a gentleman,' said Silverbridge.
'That is a word of which I don't quite know the meaning.'
'I do,' said Silverbridge confidently.
'But you could not define it. If a man be well educated, and can
keep a good house over his head, perhaps you may call him a
gentleman. But there are many such with whom your father would not
wish to be so closely connected to as you propose.'
'But I may have your sanction?' Mr Boncassen again took off his
hat and walked along thoughtfully. 'I hope you don't object to me
personally.'
'My dear young lord, your father has gone out of his way to be
civil to me.
Pages:
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720