Besides, though he does not care a straw for the
judgment of the world where it differs from him, he would be sorry
to seem to go against that judgment where he agrees with it:
scorning to marry any woman for her money, he would not have the
world think he had done so."
"Ah, Katey, there I have you! The world would entirely approve of
his doing that!"
"I will take a better position then:--he would not willingly seem to
have done a thing he himself despises. The man believes himself sent
into the world to teach it something: he would not have it thrown in
his teeth that, after all, he looks to the main chance as keenly as
another! He would starve before he would have men say so--yes, even
say so falsely. I am as sure he did not marry lady Arctura for her
money, as I am sure lord Forgue, or you, Hector, would have done it
if you had had a chance.--There!--My conviction is that the bumpkin
sought a fit opening to tell you that the will was to go for
nothing, and that no word need be said about the marriage. You know
he made you promise not to mention it--only I wormed it out of you!"
"That's just like you women! The man you take a fancy to is always
head and shoulders above other men!"
"As you take it so, I will tell you more: that man will never marry
again!"
"Wait a bit. Admiration is sometimes mutual: who knows but he may
ask you next!"
"If he did ask me, I might take him, but I should never think so
much of him!"
"Heroic Kate!"
"If you had been a little more heroic, Hector, you would have
responded to him--and found it considerably to your advantage.
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