A Mental Struggle, 39
" Imogen would not entertain the idea for a moment,"
says Lady Olivia gently; " and, indeed, I would rather she
should make a—a different match. "With her beauty the
world lies open to her to make a choice. And, besides, I
feel sure she would never reconcile herself to the poverty
of his birth."
" She should not be encouraged in such ridiculous ideas,"
declares Sir Hugh impatiently, who a score of years ago
had been a very intolerant aristocrat. " He would be an
excellent parti for any girl; and I hear he moves in the
first society in town. Imogen's birth, backed by his
money, would set them at the top of the social ladder at
once."
" But I think it is Patricia he admu'es," his wife
reminds him gently.
" True; I had forgotten that. I am sorry it should be
so, and surprised also. Though the child grows mar¬
vellously pretty, she will never be fit to be compared in
the same day with Imogen. I could hardly imagine a
more beautiful creature than she appeared this evening
when she came into the drawing-room just before dinner.
Any man might be proud to win her. She was a degree
more than Brown has been accustomed to, I fancy, because
she seemed to take his breath away. I wish the son had
admired her half as much."
" There is a fate in these things," says Lady Olivia
dreamily; " and perhaps it is all for the best if he does
prefer Patricia, because Imogen, I know, would never
come round to your way of thinking."
" She ought to learn my way, then," mutters he testily.
"I don't think that, dear. These class-prejudices are
more deeply ingrained in some natures than in others; and
Imogen is naturally proud. She can hardly help that. If
it is a fault, it is inherited. There was a time, Hugh,
when you were proud too ! "
Her zeal for her child has lent some gentle sternness to
her voice; but as her husband, the one love of her youth,
turns his face to hers in some surprise at her unwonted
tone, her valour dies. Steadily they regard each other
for a full minute, and then:
Permalink: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/r9z3p
