'No;--I could not do that. But I have told you, and you can say it for me. If you please, I think I will go home now.'
But Melmotte knew that his daughter would not believe him on such a subject. This girl she probably would believe. And though Melmotte himself found it difficult to trust anybody, he thought that there was more possible good than evil to be expected from the proposed interview. 'Oh, you shall see her,' he said. 'I don't suppose she's such a fool as to try that kind of thing again.' Then the door in Bruton Street was opened, and Hetta, repenting her mission, found herself almost pushed into the hall. She was bidden to follow Melmotte upstairs, and was left alone in the drawing-room, as she thought, for a long time. Then the door was slowly opened and Marie crept into the room. 'Miss Carbury,' she said, 'this is so good of you,--so good of you! I do so love you for coming to me! You said you would love me. You will; will you not?' and Marie, sitting down by the stranger, took her hand and encircled her waist.
'Mr Melmotte has told you why I have come.'
'Yes;--that is, I don't know. I never believe what papa says to me.' To poor Hetta such an announcement as this was horrible. 'We are at daggers drawn. He thinks I ought to do just what he tells me, as though my very soul were not my own. I won't agree to that;--would you?' Hetta had not come there to preach disobedience, but could not fail to remember at the moment that she was not disposed to obey her mother in an affair of the same kind. 'What does he say, dear?'
Hetta's message was to be conveyed in three words, and when those were told, there was nothing more to be said. 'It must all be over, Miss Melmotte.'
'Is that his message, Miss Carbury?' Hetta nodded her head. 'Is that all?'
'What more can I say? The other night you told me to bid him send you word. And I thought he ought to do so. I gave him your message, and I have brought back the answer. My brother, you know, has no income of his own;--nothing at all.'
'But I have,' said Marie with eagerness.
'But your father--'
'It does not depend upon papa. If papa treats me badly, I can give it to my husband. I know I can. If I can venture, cannot he?'