I never
knew one I liked as I like him. My daughters are old enough to be
married, and I'd give fifty thousand pounds to have him for a son-in-law.
And, of course, he won't look at 'em. He sees it. He'll talk to you.
He takes no more notice of them than is civil. They fuss round him, and
all that, but they might save themselves the pains. It's hard lines,
Mary. I'm making money as no one knows on. I could live at Enton and
afford it. But what's the good of it? If people don't care to know us
here, they won't anywhere. Mary, how was it education didn't work with
them girls? Your mother was my own sister, and she married a
gentleman. He was a blackguard, but hang it, Mary, if I were you I'd
sooner be penniless and as you are than be my daughters with five
thousand apiece."
There was an embarrassed silence. Then Mary faced the situation boldly.
"Uncle," she said, "you are asking my advice. Is that it?"
"If there's any advice you can give, for God's sake let's have it. But
I don't know as you can make black white."
"Selina and Louise are good girls enough," she said, "but they are a
little spoilt, and they are a little limited in their ideas.
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