'Mamma, I think that is unkind.'
'And I shall think it very unkind if you take upon yourself to abuse people who are able and willing to set poor Felix on his legs. A word from you might undo all that we are doing.'
'What word?'
'What word? Any word! If you have any influence with your brother you should use it in inducing him to hurry this on. I am sure the girl is willing enough. She did refer him to her father.'
'Then why does he not go to Mr Melmotte?'
'I suppose he is delicate about it on the score of money. If Roger could only let it be understood that Felix is the heir to this place, and that some day he will be Sir Felix Carbury of Carbury, I don't think there would be any difficulty even with old Melmotte.'
'How could he do that, mamma?'
'If your cousin were to die as he is now, it would be so. Your brother would be his heir.'
'You should not think of such a thing, mamma.'
'Why do you dare to tell me what I am to think? Am I not to think of my own son? Is he not to be dearer to me than any one? And what I say, is so. If Roger were to die to-morrow he would be Sir Felix Carbury of Carbury.'
'But, mamma, he will live and have a family. Why should he not?'
'You say he is so old that you will not look at him.'
'I never said so. When we were joking, I said he was old. You know I did not mean that he was too old to get married. Men a great deal older get married every day.'
'If you don't accept him he will never marry. He is a man of that kind, --so stiff and stubborn and old-fashioned that nothing will change him. He will go on boodying over it, till he will become an old misanthrope. If you would take him I would be quite contented. You are my child as well as Felix. But if you mean to be obstinate I do wish that the Melmottes should be made to understand that the property and title and name of the place will all go together. It will be so, and why should not Felix have the advantage?'
'Who is to say it?'
'Ah,--that's where it is. Roger is so violent and prejudiced that one cannot get him to speak rationally.'
'Oh, mamma,--you wouldn't suggest it to him;--that this place is to go to --Felix, when he--is dead!'