acceptable coming from a man . . . But she was going on: 'This house is in a bad way. It has been going downhill for years and not one of you, nor your forebears, has tried to stop its rot by doing a decent day's work, such as going into commerce.
But you were quite willing at this stage of desperation to clutch at the money made out of commerce, even such degrading businesses as boot-blacking and candles. Well, both those industries, together 136with property and such, made my greatgrandfather, my grandfather, then my father, and now me, rich. Even so, had the positions between Victoria and myself been reversed and she was the one with the money, and you'-she was now pointing straight at Lionel-'had got your hands on it, it still wouldn't have been enough to restore this house to what your father'-she now jerked her head towards the older man
-'would consider its heyday. No, because the man having the right up till now to all his wife owns, it would have been squandered, and although this house would have risen for a time to what you consider its rightful position in your society, its bottom being rotten, it would eventually, and soon, have sunk again.
And the money earned from the sweat of the people you despise would have sunk with it.'The quietness that settled on the room could be described only as the dullness that spreads through a brain after a severe blow. And, as if he had just received that blow, William Filmore sank down on to the couch but without moving his gaze from Bridget who, at this moment, appeared to him neither 137 woman nor man, because no man would have dared stand up in this house and spoken as she had done. And no woman of his acquaintance, right down the years, could have ever thought as this one did.There was no movement in the room until Douglas gently put a chair to Bridget's side. But this kind gesture was rewarded with a cold stare and a voice equally chilly saying, 'I don't need a chair. What I have to say is better said standing up.''Oh, well; that being so, you'll excuse me if I sit.' And at that he moved the chair back to where it had been and sat down. And this left her staring now at Lionel who, like his father, just could not believe that this was happening to him; that this bitch dressed as she was in those breeches and leggings, which in themselves made her into half a man, and that tongue, and the nerve and daring of her, yes, the daring of her ... At this moment he had the greatest desire to step towards her and bring the flat of his hand across her face,'but being made as she was she would likely claw him to bits. How, in the name of God! had she come to be related to such a girl as Victoria.
138Oh! Victoria. That puss! And his mind now mimicked her voice, saying, 'Believe me, Lionel, I'm a very poor little girl. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. I am. I am.' And on that occasion he had picked her up, literally, from the ground and he himself had said, 'Well, if that's the case, let me share your poverty. And what we'll do first is sell your wardrobe and some of your jewellery to live on, eh?' This had caused her to laugh gaily and to cling to him and kiss him with a feryour that amazed him and belied her delicate, refined appearance.'I am asking you a question.' He was brought back to the harsh present to find Bridget looking straight at him. 'As things stand,' she said, 'will you still keep your promise to Victoria and marry her?'Lionel turned to look at his father, and it was he who, having returned his son's glance, answered Bridget, saying, 'My son is in no position to support a wife. Nor am I in any position to support him/'Then what if she were to bring him up for breach of promise?'It was Lionel now who came back smartly, saying, 'Victoria would never do
139that: she would never act the rejected woman, she is not that type.''How do you know what type of woman she is? You have only seen the engagement side of her, the beautiful, teasing, pleasing side of her.
But there is
But you were quite willing at this stage of desperation to clutch at the money made out of commerce, even such degrading businesses as boot-blacking and candles. Well, both those industries, together 136with property and such, made my greatgrandfather, my grandfather, then my father, and now me, rich. Even so, had the positions between Victoria and myself been reversed and she was the one with the money, and you'-she was now pointing straight at Lionel-'had got your hands on it, it still wouldn't have been enough to restore this house to what your father'-she now jerked her head towards the older man
-'would consider its heyday. No, because the man having the right up till now to all his wife owns, it would have been squandered, and although this house would have risen for a time to what you consider its rightful position in your society, its bottom being rotten, it would eventually, and soon, have sunk again.
And the money earned from the sweat of the people you despise would have sunk with it.'The quietness that settled on the room could be described only as the dullness that spreads through a brain after a severe blow. And, as if he had just received that blow, William Filmore sank down on to the couch but without moving his gaze from Bridget who, at this moment, appeared to him neither 137 woman nor man, because no man would have dared stand up in this house and spoken as she had done. And no woman of his acquaintance, right down the years, could have ever thought as this one did.There was no movement in the room until Douglas gently put a chair to Bridget's side. But this kind gesture was rewarded with a cold stare and a voice equally chilly saying, 'I don't need a chair. What I have to say is better said standing up.''Oh, well; that being so, you'll excuse me if I sit.' And at that he moved the chair back to where it had been and sat down. And this left her staring now at Lionel who, like his father, just could not believe that this was happening to him; that this bitch dressed as she was in those breeches and leggings, which in themselves made her into half a man, and that tongue, and the nerve and daring of her, yes, the daring of her ... At this moment he had the greatest desire to step towards her and bring the flat of his hand across her face,'but being made as she was she would likely claw him to bits. How, in the name of God! had she come to be related to such a girl as Victoria.
138Oh! Victoria. That puss! And his mind now mimicked her voice, saying, 'Believe me, Lionel, I'm a very poor little girl. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. I am. I am.' And on that occasion he had picked her up, literally, from the ground and he himself had said, 'Well, if that's the case, let me share your poverty. And what we'll do first is sell your wardrobe and some of your jewellery to live on, eh?' This had caused her to laugh gaily and to cling to him and kiss him with a feryour that amazed him and belied her delicate, refined appearance.'I am asking you a question.' He was brought back to the harsh present to find Bridget looking straight at him. 'As things stand,' she said, 'will you still keep your promise to Victoria and marry her?'Lionel turned to look at his father, and it was he who, having returned his son's glance, answered Bridget, saying, 'My son is in no position to support a wife. Nor am I in any position to support him/'Then what if she were to bring him up for breach of promise?'It was Lionel now who came back smartly, saying, 'Victoria would never do
139that: she would never act the rejected woman, she is not that type.''How do you know what type of woman she is? You have only seen the engagement side of her, the beautiful, teasing, pleasing side of her.
But there is
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