The House of Mirth Page #3

I have offered you all that I am

prepared to pay for the letters.

One hundred.

If you would forgive your enemy

first inflict a hurt on them.

Oh, Bertha. How could you

have been so indiscreet?

I now pronounce you

man and wife.

I've never seen you look more lovely.

Oh, Gus.

Lily, I've got a cheque for you.

Another dividend?

You have both Rosedale

and me to thank for it.

I've made you five thousand

on his tip, and re-invested four.

And there's promise

of another big rise.

Well, I can't thank you properly now.

I don't want thanks, I want you

to be nice to Rosedale and me.

I'd like to see you now and then.

Come to Bellomont.

I'll send the motor.

Really, you say

the most absurd things.

Besides, it's impossible.

My aunt's back, I must stay

with her for the rest of the season.

Mmm.

You must come see us

the next time you are in town.

Then you can tell me how

to better invest my small fortune.

This is luck.

I was wondering if I'd be able

to have a word with you.

I haven't recovered my self-respect

since you showed me

how poor my ambitions were.

On the contrary. I thought

I'd been the means of proving

they were more important

to you than anything else.

Lily. We thought you'd given us

the slip.

We've been hunting all over for you.

I'd like to invite you to my box

at the opera on opening night.

Gus has promised

to come to town on purpose.

He's a tremendous admirer of yours.

I fancy he'd go a lot farther

for the pleasure of seeing you.

The Trenors are my best friends.

I think we should all go a long

way to see one another.

How's your luck been going

lately on Wall Street?

I hear that Gus pulled off

a nice pile for you last month.

I had a little money to invest

Mr Trenor has been helping me.

I had a lucky turn.

Is that what you call it?

You've had a great many yourself

I believe.

Is that the latest creation

of that dressmaker at the Benedick?

If so, it's a great success.

Isn't it, Mr Selden?

That's nice of you.

It would be nicer still

if you'd get me a glass of lemonade.

Pleasure.

They met

at Bertha Dorset's

and have been devoted ever since.

The engagement

is to be announced next week.

They say it will be just the nicest

marriage possible.

One dull fortune marrying another.

Evie Van Osburgh

and Percy Gryce? Well, well.

Ladies and gentlemen

Miss Lily Bart, as "Summer"

by Watteau.

She's never looked so radiant.

I think I like her best

in that simple dress.

It makes her look like the real Lily.

The Lily I know.

The Lily WE know. She's herself

with a few people only.

She has it in her to become

whatever she's believed to be.

- We must think the best of her.

- I'll tell her that.

She always says you dislike her.

Well, Grace.

How was life at Richfield?

Quiet. Aunt Peniston

sees very little company.

I'm sure your being there

gave her much pleasure.

Yes, I am as reliable

as roast mutton.

But Aunt Julia is not alone

in preferring Lily's brilliance.

You should marry, Grace.

We should all marry, Mr Selden.

You never speak to me.

I'm never near you long enough.

You think hard things of me.

I think of you... at any rate.

Then why do we never see each other?

I have my law practice, and...

you're always surrounded by admirers.

There are no admirers

at my aunt's house.

Well... then -

perhaps I might take tea

with you at Mrs Peniston's next week?

Yes.

Come at four on Friday.

Then we can talk.

I've so much to say to you.

I need your help.

You promised me once you'd help me.

The only way I can help you...

is by loving you.

Love me...

but don't tell me so.

I'd hate to miss the train.

- Selden, going too?

- Aren't you staying for supper?

No - when you can't get near anyone

you wish to speak to

I'd sooner do without.

My wife was right to stay away.

She says life is too short

to spend it breaking new people in.

Thank you.

Lily and Gus Trenor, you say?

- Aunt Peniston, I don't mean...

- Then what do you mean, Grace?

Do people say he's in love with her?

People always say unpleasant things.

It is a pity, though, that Lily

makes herself so conspicuous.

Conspicuous? Does he mean

to divorce then marry her?

No, it's...

It's a flirtation, nothing more.

A flirtation? With a married man?

Such things were never heard of

in my day.

Look here, Lily. Judy and I

have been in town for weeks.

- When am I going to see you?

- You can find me at my aunt's.

Come see me there

and we can have a quiet talk.

You said that

at the Van Osburgh wedding.

Now that you've got what you

wanted, you'd rather not see me.

Don't be foolish. If you want

to see me, come to my aunt's.

What else is being said?

That Gus Trenor pays her bills.

Rubbish. Lily has her own income.

And I provide for her

very handsomely.

There are her gambling debts.

- What do you mean?

- She plays bridge.

Who told you that my niece

plays cards for money?

Mrs Gryce told me herself Lily's

gambling debts frightened Percy.

In fact people are inclined

to excuse her on that account.

To excuse her for what?

For accepting the attentions of men

like Gus Trenor.

Thank you for telling me, Grace.

But this unwelcome information

has ruined the Mozart for me.

Lily, let's leave

before the first act starts.

Judy's cross when she's away

from Bellomont -

- Come to the house now.

- Is Judy unwell?

Well, a visit from you

might be just what's needed.

Very well, Gus

I shall come with you.

Doesn't it appear we're waiting

for the body to be brought down?

Where's Judy?

The fact is

she's not up to seeing anybody.

Do you mean to say

she's not well enough to see me?

Devil of a headache.

Quite knocked out by it.

In that case, will you have

the goodness to call me a cab?

Why must you go?

It is late and we are alone.

I must insist.

It's always the same old story.

You can't give me five minutes

but are charming to others.

I only went to that damned

stupid opera to be with you.

I must insist that you call me a cab.

Suppose I won't? What then?

If you force me I shall go upstairs

to Judy.

Sit down. I've got a word

to say to you.

If you have anything to say

to me, it must be at another time.

I'll go upstairs to Judy

unless you call me a cab at once.

Go upstairs. Judy isn't there.

Do you mean to say

that Judy is not in this house?

- She isn't even in town.

- I don't believe you.

My wife is still at Bellomont.

- She would have telephoned.

- She did.

- I received no message.

- I didn't send any.

How dare you compromise me

in this way!

Don't take that high tone with me.

I've been patient enough.

The man who pays for the dinner

is allowed a seat at the table.

I don't know what you mean.

I didn't begin this business.

Kept out of the way.

But I can see

when I'm being made a fool of.

Now you've got what you wanted

Gus isn't needed any more.

Well that isn't playing fair, Lily.

You're dodging the rules of the

game, and now you've got to pay.

Do you mean to say

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