'Hetta,' he said, 'put your arm here.' She gave him her arm. 'I was a little annoyed last night by that priest. I want to be civil to him, and now he is always turning against me.'
'He doesn't do any harm, I suppose?'
'He does do harm if he teaches you and me to think lightly of those things which we have been brought up to revere.' So, thought Henrietta, it isn't about love this time; it's only about the Church. 'He ought not to say things before my guests as to our way of believing, which I wouldn't under any circumstances say as to his. I didn't quite like your hearing it.'
'I don't think he'll do me any harm. I'm not at all that way given. I suppose they all do it. It's their business.'
'Poor fellow! I brought him here just because I thought it was a pity that a man born and bred like a gentleman should never see the inside of a comfortable house.'
'I liked him;--only I didn't like his saying stupid things about the bishop.'
'And I like him.' Then there was a pause. 'I suppose your brother does not talk to you much about his own affairs.'
'His own affairs, Roger? Do you mean money? He never says a word to me about money.'
'I meant about the Melmottes.'
'No; not to me. Felix hardly ever speaks to me about anything.'
'I wonder whether she has accepted him.'
'I think she very nearly did accept him in London.'
'I can't quite sympathise with your mother in all her feelings about this marriage, because I do not think that I recognise as she does the necessity of money.'
'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.
'I know it; and though I happen to think myself that her other child would better repay her devotion,'--this he said, looking up to Hetta and smiling,--'I quite feel how good a mother she is to Felix. You know, when she first came the other day we almost had a quarrel.'
'I felt that there was something unpleasant.'
'And then Felix coming after his time put me out. I am getting old and cross, or I should not mind such things.'