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Things happened in the next fortnight rather quickly. Susan at once resolved to tell her mother, but she resolved also not to tell Hetta. That afternoon she got her mother to herself in Mrs. Bell's own room, and then she made a clean breast of it. "And what did you say to him, Susan?" "I said nothing, mother." "Nothing, dear!" "No, mother; not a word. He told me he didn't want it."
It was made on Tuesday night and she was bound by her promise to send a reply some time on Thursday. But early on the Wednesday morning she had made up her mind; and at noon on that day her letter was written. She had spoken to Hetta about the man, and she had seen that Hetta had disliked him. She was not disposed to be much guided by Hetta's opinion.
Beckard gave Hetta a testament bound in Morocco? had not she smiled, and looked gratified, and kissed her sister, and declared that Phineas Beckard was a nice dear man, and by far the most elegant preacher at the Springs? Why should Hetta be so cruel? "I don't see that, my dear," said the mother. Hetta would not explain before her sister, so they all went to bed.
Mamma reviles me and I can bear that. He might have beaten me and reviled me, and I could have borne it. But to think that he was a liar all the time; that I can't bear. Then she burst into tears. Hetta kissed her, tried to comfort her, and left her sobbing on the sofa.
Her mother did not frequent balls, and during the last two years there had grown upon them a necessity for economy which was inimical to many gloves and costly dresses. Sir Felix went out of course, but Hetta Carbury spent most of her time at home with her mother in Welbeck Street. Occasionally the world saw her, and when the world did see her the world declared that she was a charming girl.
'Do you want my daughter? said Melmotte coming forward, and just touching his hat. 'She is not living here at present. 'Oh, I remember now, said Hetta. 'May I be allowed to tell her who was asking after her? At the present moment Melmotte was not unreasonably suspicious about his daughter. 'I am Miss Carbury, said Hetta in a very low voice.
She had bought clothes for him, and had been busy with Hetta for two days preparing for his long journey, having told some lie to her own daughter as to the cause of her brother's intended journey. He had not gone, but had come, drunk and degraded, back to the house.
I think it ought to have been enough for you to know that I should never give him encouragement without telling you about it. I do love him, and I shall never love any one else. 'He is a ruined man. Your cousin says that all this Company in which he is involved will go to pieces. Hetta was too clever to allow this argument to pass.
She felt that though she would have delighted to expatiate on this great triumph, she must be silent at present. It should now be her great effort to ingratiate herself with Mr Melmotte at the dinner party at Caversham. During the whole of that evening Roger Carbury hardly spoke to his cousin Hetta.
'Felix is so disposed to be extravagant. 'Well; yes. But I was going to say that though I cannot bring myself to say anything to encourage her about this heiress, I quite recognise her unselfish devotion to his interests. 'Mamma thinks more of him than of anything, said Hetta, not in the least intending to accuse her mother of indifference to herself.
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