The House of Mirth Page #2

- If I waited long enough.

But I only had a limited time

to give to the experience.

- Why limited?

- By my other engagement.

Ah, now I see why you were

getting up on your Americana.

That is why I was waiting for you.

To thank you for having

given me so many points.

You can hardly do justice to

the subject in so short a time.

Won't you devote the afternoon to it?

We'll take a walk, and you

can thank me at your leisure.

Let us sit here.

I've broken two engagements

for you today

and both of them with Percy Gryce.

How many have you broken for me?

None. My only engagement

at Bellomont was with you.

You really came to Bellomont

to see me?

- Of course I did.

- Why?

Because I always

like to see what you're doing.

You're such a wonderful spectacle.

Well, now that you are here

you can see the effect first-hand.

Oh, I don't flatter

myself that my coming here

has deflected your course

of action by a hair's breadth.

Oh, do give me one

I haven't smoked in days.

Why such unnatural abstinence?

Because it's not deemed becoming

in a jeune fille marier.

And at the present moment

I AM a jeune fille marier.

You must suppose me dull if you think

I never yield to impulse.

But I don't suppose that.

Your genius lies in converting

impulses into intentions.

My genius?

My genius would appear

to be my ability

to do the wrong thing

at the right time.

Or vice versa.

Is there any final test

of genius but success?

I certainly haven't succeeded.

But you will marry someone very rich.

What a miserable future

you foresee for me.

Haven't you seen it for yourself?

Of course.

But it seems so much darker

when you show it to me.

Why do you do this to me?

Why do you make the things

that I've chosen seem hateful to me

if you have nothing

to give me instead?

No, I have nothing

to give you instead.

If I had, it should be yours

you know that.

But you belittle me in being

so sure they are all I care for.

Isn't it natural I belittle

all that I can't offer you?

Do you want to marry me?

No, I don't.

But perhaps I should. If you did.

It would be a great risk.

I have never concealed how great.

- You are a coward.

- No.

It's you who are the coward.

Are you serious?

Why not? I took no risk in being so.

Why is it that when we meet we

always play this elaborate game?

It's getting late. Let us go down.

'I thought Mr Gryce

meant to stay all week.'

'He did mean to stay

that's the worst of it.'

'Lt shows that he's running away

from you

'that Bertha's done her work

and poisoned him.'

'What was it

Bertha really told Percy? '

'Don't ask me - horrors.

'All I can say is, Lily

that I can't make you out.'

'Oh, he's not completely lost

there are ways.'

'Whatever you do, do nothing.

'Oh, Lily, you'll never do

anything if you're not serious.'

- Out of spirits?

- I'm a little dull.

Is your last box of Doucet dresses

a failure

or did my wife rook you

for everything at bridge?

I have to give up Doucet dresses

and bridge.

I can't afford either any more.

And Judy thinks me a bore.

Fact is, she is angry with me.

Angry with you? Nonsense.

My wife's devoted to you.

Oh, she is my very best friend.

That is why I mind vexing her.

I want to make my peace with her.

She has her heart set

on my marrying money.

- A great deal of money.

- You don't mean Percy Gryce?

Good Lord, how could Judy

think you would do such a thing?

Sometimes I think a man

understands a woman's motives

better than her own sex does.

Good Lord

I could have told Judy that.

I wish you'd try to persuade Judy

to be civil to Rosedale.

I did some neat business

through him last week.

If she'd only ask him

to dine now and then

I could get almost anything

out of him.

He's going to be richer than us all

one of these days.

Would you do me a favour?

A very great favour?

Of course.

I don't mean to bore you

with all of this

but I am entirely dependent

upon my aunt.

And though she is very kind

she gives me no regular allowance.

I have a tiny income of my own

but it has been badly invested.

It seems to bring in

less and less each year.

And recently

I have lost money at cards.

I have paid off my debts

but I dare not tell my aunt.

I can no longer go on

living my present life.

And Percy Gryce?

I can't make that sort of marriage.

And so you gave him the sack.

That's why he left this morning.

If you will trust me

I can make you a handsome sum

without endangering your capital.

I am so ignorant about money matters

and I would be so grateful

to have a good advisor.

Leave it to me. I'll find a

solution.

Really, Lily, you're as

frivolous as your parents were -

I don't see why you got to Bellomont

if you don't remember

whom you saw there.

But there was no one new

just the usual throng.

- Was Mr Selden there?

- Yes, he came later.

And Mr Rosedale, was he there?

No, of course not. Why do you ask?

Oh, passing interest merely.

Mr Selden tells me that socially

Mr Rosedale is ubiquitous now.

Men like Rosedale, and their methods

of gaining fortunes

are at best questionable

at worst criminal.

To grow richer when people's

investments are shrinking

strikes me as being

in very bad taste.

But society still uses such men

if only obliquely.

If obliquity were a vice

we should all be tainted.

Only someone without family

could make such a vulgar remark.

Aunt Julia, you ARE my family.

Just as I thought -

I cannot teach the parlour maid

to draw the blinds down evenly.

- Will you see to it, Grace?

- Of course.

Jennings, we will take tea

in the upstairs sitting room.

Lily, you can read me the obituaries.

Oh, Aunt Julia

Grace does it so much better than me.

She can make even the most

insignificant death interesting.

I will see to the blinds.

Very well, you may join us later.

It's a Mrs Haffen, miss.

She won't say what she wants.

Do you want to see me?

I have something

you might like to see.

You have something belonging to me?

Not exactly.

I don't understand. If it

is not mine, then why are you here?

When I was working at the Benedick

I was in charge of cleaning

the gentlemen's rooms.

Most gentlemen are careful

about the letters they get -

burn them in winter

tear them into bits in summer.

But Mr Selden wasn't so particular.

I know nothing of these letters.

I have no idea

why you have brought them here.

To sell them.

I saw you coming out

of Mr Selden's rooms.

So I guessed they were

worth more to you than me.

"You promised we would

meet when George was next away.

"Although you've forbidden

me to come to you, I will.

"I cannot bear George near me.

"When he touches me I want

to scream. He is unbearable."

"My darling Lawrence

you are my consolation, my only joy.

"In you I find more freedom

and support than I have ever known.

"Your devoted Bertha."

What do you want me to pay you

for them?

One hundred and fifty.

- One hundred.

- I've got to live, too.

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