Of course, if she does she'll
probably ruin him and herself, too. But I think she'll have enough
sense of her position, of how to maintain it for herself, and for
him and her children, not to be a fool."
Meanwhile Craig was also cooling down. He had meant every word he
said--while he was saying it. Only one self-convinced could have
been so effective. But, sobering off from his rhetorical debauch
in the quiet streets of that majestic quarter, he began to feel
that he had gone farther, much farther, than he intended.
"I don't see how, in self-respect, I could have said less,"
thought he. "And surely the old woman isn't so lost to decency
that she can't appreciate and admire self-respect."
Still he might have spoken less harshly; might have been a little
considerate of the fact that he was not making a stump speech, but
was in the drawing-room of a high-born, high-bred lady. "And gad,
she IS a patrician!"
His eyes were surveying the splendid mansions round about--the
beautiful window-gardens--the curtains at the windows, which he
had learned were real lace, whatever that might be, and most
expensive. Very fine, that way of living! Very comfortable, to
have servants at beck and call, and most satisfactory to the
craving for power--trifles, it is true, but still the substantial
and tangible evidence of power.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214