Love & Friendship Page #4

is not to your taste, what will you do?

How will you live?

- I... I could teach.

- Teach.

Had you been more in school,

you'd not consider such a thing.

Answer this.

When our Lord wrote his commandments,

which did he consider so important

that he put it in the fourth position?

The fourth position?

Yes, the fourth commandment.

I know the commandments,

but not their order.

See? This is what comes of

an irregular education.

Yes. Fourth commandment.

- Thou shalt not...

- No, it's not a shalt not.

- It's a shalt.

- A shalt?

If I had not myself been present,

I would wonder if I were even your mother.

"Honor thy father

and mother."

I'm sorry, have I done anything

that's dishonored you or Father?

To honor means, among other things,

to listen with respect

to a parent's sincere council.

I do listen with respect, Mama.

It's just that...

If you will not pay attention to me, then

perhaps you will to a larger imperative.

The law of the universe.

An offer as splendid as Sir James's

is not likely to come around again.

He has offered you the one

thing he has of value to give,

his income.

I fear and reproach myself

having shielded you for far too long.

Had I let you starve a little bit more,

you would resist much less.

Mama, I was often hungry at school.

Well, evidently, not hungry enough.

In any case, the starvation

at the schoolhouse

is nothing like that of a destitute.

Is that what you want?

No.

I can see Sir James is a kind man,

and if it weren't a matter of marriage,

I'm sure I could like him.

But marriage is for one's whole life.

Not in my experience.

Meanwhile, I must ask you not to speak

to your aunt and uncle about this matter,

or seek their interference in any way.

I insist.

Promise?

- Remember the commandment.

- Yes, Mama.

Sir James's arrival and suddenness

requires some explanation.

You were not too surprised, I hope.

It was unexpected.

Certainly.

To me as much as anyone.

I'm afraid Sir James's best qualities

are not immediately apparent.

- Certainly, he's no Solomon.

- Solomon?

The wise king in The Bible

who had the idea of dividing the infant

disputed by two mothers in half.

Or in two. I don't recall

the exact wording.

- Yes, of course.

- So, Sir James is no Solomon.

How many suitors of great wisdom could

a young woman expect to find these days?

- I don't know.

- None.

And, I confess, I ask myself is such

a quality even desirable in a husband?

[chuckling]

How jolly.

Tiny green balls.

Mm. Yes.

Good tasting.

Quite sweet.

What are they called?

Peas.

Oh, yes.

No, I knew that.

I recall now.

I must get Collins to cultivate

these at Martindale.

Novelty vegetables.

Could make quite a packet.

[laughs]

Ohh. Tiny.

I'm enjoying Sir James's visit.

His conversation's lively.

Brings a new angle to things.

What would you think, uh, to come

and see the Fredricksville Farm?

He mentioned he had an interest

in agricultural methods.

Yes.

- Frederick, be careful.

- Frederick, you must try to be good.

- He's utterly ridiculous.

- Certainly, he's no Solomon. But...

- Solomon?

- The wise king from The Bible.

I know he's not that.

But any man navigating the

cascades of romantic courtship,

and occasionally falling into its foaming

waters is apt not to appear at his best.

- What?

- A simple word, Reginald.

Comprehension.

I admire your caustic mind,

but I think you're

not entirely sensible

at the degree to which

you can intimidate others.

Particularly a young man over

whom you have every advantage of,

position, looks, and character.

Sir James Martin

is a fool because of me.

Yes. Around you,

he seems very silly.

- Isn't he silly around everyone?

- No.

I believe he's given everyone

the same impression.

Well, they've only seen him around you.

But you deny Sir James's

intentions toward you.

- Toward me?

- He's clearly besotted with you.

Oh, it's with Frederica he's smitten.

- That's not possible.

- Well, he's proposed to her.

How could such a blockhead

even be allowed to court your daughter?

It's incomprehensible.

This is the incomprehension

of the rich and easeful.

You can afford to take the high ground,

and add another layer to your pride.

If you realized the full

extent of ridiculous manhood

a young girl without

fortune must endure,

you'd be more generous to Sir James.

Lady Susan:
It was so good

you could steal away.

We can only meet through

such subterfuges.

Mr. Johnson

is relentless.

I'll not be sent back to Connecticut.

I don't see why he believes

that association with me

would lower your reputation.

But a question.

Did Sir James mention to you

any plans to come to Churchill?

Heavens no.

What folly.

How did Mr. DeCourcy

react?

Well, I had some gratification there.

At first, he observed Sir James with

attention not untinged with jealousy,

but it was impossible

to really torture him,

for I had to finally reveal

that his object was Frederica.

Then he was all astonishment.

Left to ourselves,

I had no great difficulty

in convincing him I was justified.

I don't remember the exact reasoning,

but it was all comfortably arranged.

So what's your verdict

on young DeCourcy?

Well, he's not stupid, and

he has a great deal to say,

but I can't help but look

with a certain contempt

on the fancies of a heart so doubting

the reasonableness of it's own emotions.

I vastly prefer the generous

spirit of a Manwaring

who deeply convinced of one's marriage

can be satisfied that what

everyone does is right.

I know that no one really deserves you,

but young DeCourcy might be worth having.

Excuse me, Frederica.

When I came down this morning, I...

I couldn't help but notice

you were reading a book.

Which book was that?

This volume of Cooper's verse.

Cooper the poet?

He... He also writes verse?

Most impressive.

Yes, he's versatile in that way.

So, Frederica, you read

both verse and poetry.

In this, I believe,

you take after your mother,

who knows a great many things.

Just yesterday, she cited to me

a story from The Bible

about a very wise king.

This reminded me of many such accounts

one learns in childhood.

Perhaps most significant

in forming one's principles

is that of the old prophet who came

down from the mount with tablets,

pleading the 12 commandments,

which our Lord has taught us to obey

without fail.

- 12 commandments.

- Mm.

Excuse me but, uh,

I believe there were only 10.

Really?

Only 10 must be obeyed.

Excellent.

[chuckles] Well, then,

wh... which two to take off?

Perhaps the one about the Sabbath.

I prefer to hunt.

- Well...

- After that, it becomes tricky.

Many of the thou shalt nots.

Don't murder.

Uh, don't covet

thy neighbor's house or wife.

You... One simply

wouldn't do, anyway.

[chuckles]

Because they are wrong.

Whether the Lord allows us

to take them off or not.

[chuckles]

It's so kind of you.

No, uh, delighted.

Honored.

My... my pleasure.

Would you like me to sign a note?

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