Later in the day, two or three hours after Miss Carbury had gone, Marie Melmotte, who had not shown herself at luncheon, walked into Madame Melmotte's room, and thus declared her purpose. 'You can tell papa that I will marry Lord Nidderdale whenever he pleases.' She spoke in French and very rapidly.
On hearing this Madame Melmotte expressed herself to be delighted. 'Your papa,' said she, 'will be very glad to hear that you have thought better of this at last. Lord Nidderdale is, I am sure, a very good young man.'
'Yes,' continued Marie, boiling over with passion as she spoke. 'I'll marry Lord Nidderdale, or that horrid Mr Grendall who is worse than all the others, or his old fool of a father,--or the sweeper at the crossing,--or the black man that waits at table, or anybody else that he chooses to pick up. I don't care who it is the least in the world. But I'll lead him such a life afterwards! I'll make Lord Nidderdale repent the hour he saw me! You may tell papa.' And then, having thus entrusted her message to Madame Melmotte, Marie left the room.