The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope (best fiction novels of all time .TXT) 📕

to any other period. It was then that he began to know what that year’s season would cost him. But he had never yet been able to keep his family in the country during the entire year. The girls, who as yet knew nothing of the Continent beyond Paris, had signified their willingness to be taken about Germany and Italy for twelve months, but had shown by every means in their power that they would mutiny against any intention on their father’s part to keep them at Caversham during the London season.

Georgiana had just finished her strong-minded protest against the Melmottes, when her brother strolled into the room. Dolly did not often show himself in Bruton Street. He had rooms of his own, and could seldom even be induced to dine with his family. His mother wrote to him notes without end⁠—notes every day, pressing invitations of all sorts upon him; would he come and dine; would he take them to the theatre; would he go to this ball; would he go to that evening-party? These Dolly barely read, and never answered. He would open them, thrust them into some pocket, and then forget them. Consequently his mother worshipped him; and even his sisters, who were at any rate superior to him in intellect, treated him with a certain deference. He could do as he liked, and they felt themselves to be slaves, bound down by the dullness of the Longestaffe regime. His freedom was grand to their eyes, and very enviable, although they were aware that he had already so used it as to impoverish himself in the midst of his wealth.

“My dear Adolphus,” said the mother, “this is so nice of you.”

“I think it is rather nice,” said Dolly, submitting himself to be kissed.

“Oh Dolly, whoever would have thought of seeing you?” said Sophia.

“Give him some tea,” said his mother. Lady Pomona was always having tea from four o’clock till she was taken away to dress for dinner.

“I’d sooner have soda and brandy,” said Dolly.

“My darling boy!”

“I didn’t ask for it, and I don’t expect to get it; indeed I don’t want it. I only said I’d sooner have it than tea. Where’s the governor?” They all looked at him with wondering eyes. There must be something going on more than they had dreamed of, when Dolly asked to see his father.

“Papa went out in the brougham immediately after lunch,” said Sophia gravely.

“I’ll wait a little for him,” said Dolly, taking out his watch.

“Do stay and dine with us,” said Lady Pomona.

“I could not do that, because I’ve got to go and dine with some fellow.”

“Some fellow! I believe you don’t know where you’re going,” said Georgiana.

“My fellow knows. At least he’s a fool if he don’t.”

“Adolphus,” began Lady Pomona very seriously, “I’ve got a plan and I want you to help me.”

“I hope there isn’t very much to do in it, mother.”

“We’re all going to Caversham, just for Whitsuntide, and we particularly want you to come.”

“By George! no; I couldn’t do that.”

“You haven’t heard half. Madame Melmotte and her daughter are coming.”

“The d⁠⸺ they are!” ejaculated Dolly.

“Dolly!” said Sophia, “do remember where you are.”

“Yes I will;⁠—and I’ll remember too where I won’t be. I won’t go to Caversham to meet old mother Melmotte.”

“My dear boy,” continued the mother, “do you know that Miss Melmotte will have twenty⁠—thousand⁠—a year the day she marries; and that in all probability her husband will some day be the richest man in Europe?”

“Half the fellows in London are after her,” said Dolly.

“Why shouldn’t you be one of them?”

“She isn’t going to stay in the same house with half the fellows in London,” suggested Georgiana. “If you’ve a mind to try it you’ll have a chance which nobody else can have just at present.”

“But I haven’t any mind to try it. Good gracious me;⁠—oh dear! it isn’t at all in my way, mother.”

“I knew he wouldn’t,” said Georgiana.

“It would put everything so straight,” said Lady Pomona.

“They’ll have to remain crooked if nothing else will put them straight. There’s the governor. I heard his voice. Now for a row.” Then Mr. Longestaffe entered the room.

“My dear,” said Lady Pomona, “here’s Adolphus come to see us.” The father nodded his head at his son but said nothing. “We want him to stay and dine, but he’s engaged.”

“Though he doesn’t know where,” said Sophia.

“My fellow knows;⁠—he keeps a book. I’ve got a letter, sir, ever so long, from those fellows in Lincoln’s Inn. They want me to come and see you about selling something; so I’ve come. It’s an awful bore, because I don’t understand anything about it. Perhaps there isn’t anything to be sold. If so I can go away again, you know.”

“You’d better come with me into the study,” said the father. “We needn’t disturb your mother and sisters about business.” Then the squire led the way out of the room, and Dolly followed, making a woeful grimace at his sisters. The three ladies sat over their tea for about half-an-hour, waiting⁠—not the result of the conference, for with that they did not suppose that they would be made acquainted⁠—but whatever signs of good or evil might be collected from the manner and appearance of the squire when he should return to them. Dolly they did not expect to see again⁠—probably for a month. He and the squire never did come together without quarrelling, and careless as was the young man in every other respect, he had hitherto been obdurate as to his own rights in any dealings which he had with his father. At the end of the half hour Mr. Longestaffe returned to the drawing-room, and at once pronounced the doom of the family. “My dear,” he said, “we shall not return from Caversham to London this year.” He struggled hard to maintain a grand dignified tranquillity as he spoke, but his voice quivered with emotion.

“Papa!” screamed Sophia.

“My dear, you don’t mean it,” said Lady Pomona.

“Of course papa doesn’t mean it,” said Georgiana rising