For my
part I see in him only the man who abandoned my mother, who spent the
money of other people in dissipation and worse than dissipation. Who
came to England and accepted my existence after a leisurely interval as
a matter of course. I have never seen in any one of his actions, or
heard in his tone one single indication of anything save selfishness so
incarnate as to have become the only moving impulse of his life. If
ever I could believe that he cared for me, would find in me anything
save a convenience, I would try to forget the past. If he would even
express his sorrow for it, show himself capable of any emotion
whatsoever in connection with anything or any person save himself, I
would be only too thankful to escape from my ridiculous position."
Then they were silent for a moment, each occupied with their own
thoughts, and Lord Arranmore, pale and spare, taller than most men
there, notwithstanding a recently-acquired stoop, came wearily over to
them.
"Dear me," he remarked, "what gloomy faces--and I expected to see Brooks
at least radiant. Am I intruding?"
"Don't be absurd, Arranmore," she said kindly.
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