VIII

hassetherheartonthesecottagesinsuchamannerthatIactuallyfeartheconsequencestoherhealthifshedoesnotgetthem." "Now,mother,youreallycan'tmakeMr.Neumann-Schultz'snieceill." "Dearestboy,haveyousuddenlylostyoursenses?" "Notunlessit'slosingthemtobereadytodoakindness." "Wellsaid,wellsaid,youngman,"saidFritzingapprovingly. "Tussie,haveIevershirkeddoingakindness?"askedLadyShuttleworth,touchedonhertenderestpoint. "Never.Andthat'swhyIcan'tletyoubeginnow,"saidTussie,smilingather. "Wellsaid,wellsaid,youngman,"approvedFritzing."Thewomanuptoacertainageshouldleadtheyouth,andheshouldinallthingsfollowhercounselswithrespectandobedience.Butsheforherpartshouldknowatwhatmomenttolaydownherauthority,andbegin,withafittingmodesty,tofollowhimwhomshehashithertoled." "Isthatwhatyourniecedoes?"askedLadyShuttleworthquickly. "Madam?" "Isshefollowingyouintothesecottages,orareyoufollowingher?" "Youmustpardonme,madam,ifIdeclinetodiscussmyniece." "Dohaveacigarette,"saidTussie,delighted. "Ineversmoke,youngman." "Somethingtodrink,then?" "Ineverdrink,youngman." "IfIdecidetoletyouhavethesecottages—ifIdo,"saidLadyShuttleworth,dividedbetweenastonishmentateverythingaboutFritzingandblankestamazementatherson'sbehaviour,"youwillunderstandthatIonlydoitbecausemysonseemstowishit." "Madam,providedIgetthecottagesIwillunderstandanythingyoulike." "Firstthat.ThenI'dwantsomeinformationaboutyourself.Icouldn'tletastrangercomeandliveintheverymiddleofmyson'sestateunlessIknewallabouthim." "Why,mother—"beganTussie. "Isnotthewillingnesstogiveyouyourownpricesufficient?"inquiredFritzinganxiously. "Notintheleastsufficient,"snappedLadyShuttleworth. "Whatdoyouwishtoknow,madam?"saidFritzingstiffly. "Iassureyouagreatdeal." "Come,mother,"saidTussie,towhomthiswaspainful,forwasnottheman,apartfromhisstrangeclothesandspeeches,ofadistinctlyrefinedandintellectualappearance?Andevenifhewasn't,washenotstilltheuncleofthatdivineniece?—"thesearethingsforDawsontoarrange." Fritzingstartedatthehatedname,andbegantofrowndreadfully.Hisfrownwasalwaysveryimpressivebecauseofhisbushyeyebrowsanddeep-seteyes."Dawson,asyoucallhim,"hesaid,"andhecertainlyhasnoclaimtoanyprefixofpoliteness,isnotapersonwithwhomIwillconsenttoarrangeanything.Dawsonisthemostoffensivecreaturewhoeverwalkedthisear