'I half a mind to go back to-morrow morning,' Felix said to his mother that Sunday evening after dinner. At that moment Roger was walking round the garden by himself, and Henrietta was in her own room.
'To-morrow morning, Felix! You are engaged to dine with the Longestaffes!'
'You could make any excuse you like about that.'
'It would be the most uncourteous thing in the world. The Longestaffes you know are the leading people in this part of the country. No one knows what may happen. If you should ever be living at Carbury, how sad it would be that you should have quarrelled with them.'
'You forget, mother, that Dolly Longestaffe is about the most intimate friend I have in the world.'
'That does not justify you in being uncivil to the father and mother. And you should remember what you came here for.'
'What did I come for?'
'That you might see Marie Melmotte more at your ease than you can in their London house.'
'That's all settled,' said Sir Felix, in the most indifferent tone that he could assume.
'Settled!'
'As far as the girl is concerned. I can't very well go to the old fellow for his consent down here.'
'Do you mean to say, Felix, that Marie Melmotte has accepted you?'
'I told you that before.'
'My dear Felix. Oh, my boy!' In her joy the mother took her unwilling son in her arms and caressed him. Here was the first step taken not only to success, but to such magnificent splendour as should make her son to be envied by all young men, and herself to be envied by all mothers in England! 'No, you didn't tell me before. But I am so happy. Is she really fond of you? I don't wonder that any girl should be fond of you.'
'I can't say anything about that, but I think she means to stick to it.'
'If she is firm, of course her father will give way at last. Fathers always do give way when the girl is firm. Why should he oppose it?'
'I don't know that he will.'
'You are a man of rank, with a title of your own. I suppose what he wants is a gentleman for his girl. I don't see why he should not be perfectly satisfied. With all his enormous wealth a thousand a year or so can't make any difference. And then he made you one of the Directors at his Board. Oh Felix;--it is almost too good to be true.'