He had said that he would not marry her
unless she would give up the necklace, and he was most desirous to be true
to his word. He had been twice insulted, and he was anxious to support
these injuries with dignity. Poor Lucy's little offence against him
rankled in his mind with the other great offences. That this humble friend
of his mother's should have been so insolent was a terrible thing to him.
He was not sure even whether his own sisters did not treat him with
scantier reverence than of yore. And yet he was so anxious to do right,
and do his duty in that state of life to which it had pleased God to call
him! As to much he was in doubt; but of two things he was quite sure--that
Frank Greystock was a scoundrel, and that Lucy Morris was the most
impertinent young woman in England.
"What would you wish to have done, Frederic?" his mother said to him on
his return.
"In what respect, mother?"
"About Lucy Morris? I have not seen her yet. I have thought it better that
she should be left to herself for a while before I did so. I suppose she
must come down to dinner. She always does."
"I do not wish to interfere with the young lady's meals.
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