"
There could hardly be a better opening than this for him had he chosen to
accept it. But it was not thus that he had arranged it--for he made his
arrangements. "There would be no feeling of that kind, I am sure," he
said. And then he was silent. How was he to deploy himself on the ground
before him so as to make the strategy which he had prepared answer the
occasion of the day? "Lady Eustace," he said, "I don't know what your
views of life may be."
"I have a child, you know, to bring up."
"Ah, yes; that gives a great interest, of course."
"He will inherit a very large fortune, Lord Fawn; too large, I fear, to be
of service to a youth of one-and-twenty; and I must endeavour to fit him
for the possession of it. That is, and always must be, the chief object of
my existence." Then she felt that she had said too much. He was just the
man who would be fool enough to believe her. "Not but what it is hard to
do it. A mother can of course devote herself to her child; but when a
portion of the devotion must be given to the preservation of material
interests there is less of tenderness in it. Don't you think so?"
"No doubt," said Lord Fawn; "no doubt.
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