'I don't call him good. If he were good his wife would be better.'
'Very likely; and if you had married him _he_ would be better, and that's more to the purpose. Lionel is as idiotic as a comic song, but you have cleverness for two.'
'And you have it for fifty, dear Lady Davenant. Never, never--I shall never marry a man I can't respect!' Laura Wing exclaimed.
She had come a little nearer her old friend and taken her hand; her companion held her a moment and with the other hand pushed aside one of the flaps of the waterproof. 'And what is it your clothing costs you?' asked Lady Davenant, looking at the dress underneath and not giving any heed to this declaration.
'I don't exactly know: it takes almost everything that is sent me from America. But that is dreadfully little--only a few pounds. I am a wonderful manager. Besides,' the girl added, 'Selina wants one to be dressed.'
'Why, she gives me everything--food, shelter, carriages.'
'I wouldn't take it,' said the girl. 'They need everything they have--their life is tremendously expensive.'
'That I'll warrant!' cried the old woman. 'It was a most beautiful property, but I don't know what has become of it now. _Ce n'est pas pour vous blesser_, but the hole you Americans _can_ make----'
Laura interrupted immediately, holding up her head; Lady Davenant had dropped her hand and she had receded a step. 'Selina brought Lionel a very considerable fortune and every penny of it was paid.'
'Yes, I know it was; Mrs. Berrington told me it was most satisfactory. That's not always the case with the fortunes you young ladies are supposed to bring!' the old lady added, smiling.
The girl looked over her head a moment. 'Why do your men marry for money?'
'Why indeed, my dear? And before your troubles what used your father to give you for your personal expenses?'
'He gave us everything we asked--we had no particular allowance.'
'And I daresay you asked for everything?' said Lady Davenant.
'No doubt we were very dressy, as you say.'
'No wonder he went bankrupt--for he did, didn't he?'
'He had dreadful reverses but he only sacrificed himself--he protected others.'
'Well, I know nothing about these things and I only ask _pour me renseigner_,' Mrs. Berrington's guest went on. 'And after their reverses your father and mother lived I think only a short time?'