She was not good-looking; so at least Mrs.
Greystock said. She never would allow that Lucy was good-looking. And she
didn't see much in Lucy, who, according to her idea, was a little chit of
a thing. Her position was simply that of a governess. Mrs. Greystock
declared to her daughter that no one in the whole world had a higher
respect for governesses than had she. But a governess is a governess; and
for a man in Frank's position such a marriage would be simply suicide.
"You shouldn't say that, mamma, now; for it's fixed," said Ellinor
Greystock.
"But I do say it, my dear. Things sometimes are fixed which must be
unfixed. You know your brother."
"Frank is earning a large income, mamma."
"Did you ever know a Greystock who didn't want more than his income?"
"I hope I don't, mamma, and mine is very small."
"You're a Jackson. Frank is Greystock to the very backbone. If he marries
Lucy Morris he must give up Parliament. That's all."
The dean himself was more reticent and less given to interference than his
wife; but he felt it also. He would not for the world have hinted to his
son that it might be well to marry money; but he thought that it was a
good thing that his son should go where money was.
Pages:
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462