The House of Mirth Page #7

You could talk things over with me.

What makes you think

that I have anything to talk about?

My initiative doesn't go beyond

putting myself at your disposal.

I shouldn't have come if

I had thought I could be of no use.

- Do you know where you are?

- Of course I know where I am!

You must let me

take you away from here.

If you've come to speak

disagreeably about Mrs Hatch...

It's your relationship

that concerns me.

That relationship is one that

I have no reason to be ashamed of!

She has helped me when old friends

were content to see me starve.

Nonsense! Starvation

is not the only alternative.

I know your aunt's legacy

could make you independent.

What you don't know is that

I owe every penny of that legacy!

Good God.

Every penny, and more besides.

I have no money

except my small income

and I need to earn money

in order to keep myself alive.

I should be happier to see you out

of this particular employment.

But I should not.

I simply wish to point out the false

position you have placed yourself in.

I suppose by that you mean

my being on the outside of society.

But I have long been excluded

from it.

You once said only the insiders

took the difference seriously.

Mrs Hatch's desire to be inside

may put you in the position

I call false.

You cannot want this!

You've already told me

the sole object of my upbringing

was to teach me to get what I want.

Now, why not assume that that is

precisely what I am doing now?

I have never thought of you

as a successful example

of that kind of upbringing.

Well, give me more time.

I may still do credit to my training.

That was undignified.

Where does dignity end

and rectitude begin?

- Good day, Miss Bart.

- Good day, Mr Selden.

She got five dollars

and her picture in the paper.

The hat? She got that yesterday.

The one with the green paradise.

It'll be ready right off.

Madame asked me

to alter that Virot hat.

You know, she's tall, slight

but her hair's all frizzed out.

A lot like Mary Leach. Only thinner.

Miss Bart.

Look at these spangles.

Every one of 'em sewed on crooked.

I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm not well.

If you can't do better

I'll give the hat to Miss Kilroy.

Go back to binding edges.

Miss Bart.

I must draw your attention

to the fact

that your work is poor

and your attendance irregular.

Miss Haines is right.

I am clumsy and slow to learn.

I have been indisposed lately.

But I will try to improve.

It's too late for that - I took you

on as a favour to Mrs Fisher

but against my better judgement.

As the season is nearly over I

have to dispense with your services.

I trust you'll find a position

more suited to your skills.

Thank you.

How are you, Grace?

Her memory is everywhere.

The whole house.

And you, Lily? How are you?

You look dreadfully tired.

I don't sleep at night.

Since when?

I don't...

I can't remember.

There are other worries.

Dreadful things.

What things?

Poverty.

I can't think

of anything worse, can you?

I can't go on this way much longer.

Do you have any idea

when the legacies will be paid?

No, Lily.

No one has received them yet.

Not even me.

The truth is, I need money, Grace.

Would you be willing to lend me

the amount of my legacy?

You must be patient.

Remember how beautifully patient

Aunt Julia always was.

But you will get everything, Grace.

It would be so easy for you to borrow

ten times the amount I am asking for.

Borrow?

I am at the end of my tether.

You imagine for a moment

that I would raise money

upon my expectations from Aunt Julia?

Why, Lily

if you must know the truth

it was the idea of your being in debt

that brought on her last illness.

You won't help me, then?

If I can do anything to make you

realise the folly of your course...

and how deeply

she disapproved of it...

I shall feel it's the truest way

of making up to you for her loss.

Thank you, Grace.

It was good of you to see me.

Goodbye.

Can I help?

Mrs Hatch?

You mustn't increase

the dose, Mrs Hatch.

Of course not.

Miss Lily?

What's the matter?

I'm a little tired. It's nothing.

Stay with me a moment, please.

We can't stay here. Let me take

you to the Longworth for some tea.

Take your tea strong.

I haven't seen you in ages.

I-I wondered what had become of you.

I have joined the working classes.

I was trying to learn

to become a milliner.

- You can't be serious.

- Perfectly serious.

I understood that

you were with Mrs Hatch.

She dismissed me two months ago.

After she gotten into society

it seems my reputation had become

a social liability.

Since then I have been

obliged to work for my living.

Well, that wasn't for you anyhow.

- I must go.

- No, no. Rest a little longer.

What did you mean when you said

you were becoming a milliner?

Just what I said. I am an apprentice

at Madame Regina's.

I was an apprentice

at Madame Regina's.

But I understood that you had

received a legacy from your aunt.

Ten thousand dollars.

But it isn't paid until spring

and anyway, I owe it already.

- The whole ten thousand?

- Every penny.

I think Gus Trenor spoke to you once

about having made me some money

in stocks.

He made me

about nine thousand dollars.

I knew nothing about business.

I thought that he had invested

my own money.

In fact, what he had made

he had given me.

It was meant in kindness

but it was not the sort of

obligation I could remain under.

I was incredibly stupid.

I spent the money

before I realised my mistake.

And so my aunt's legacy

must go to pay it back.

That is why... That is why

I must now work.

That will clean you out altogether.

Altogether. Yes.

Miss Lily, if you want my backing...

Thank you.

Your tea has been

a tremendous backing.

I feel equal to anything now.

- Surely this isn't the place?

- Yes, I room and board here.

I have lived too long on my friends.

You can't go on living here.

I have gone over my expenses

very carefully

and I rather think

that I shall be able to manage it.

- That's not what I mean.

- It is what I mean.

I shall be out of work now.

What a way for you to talk.

You, in a place like this.

My situation is nothing exceptional.

But you are!

It's an outrage.

Look here - it's none of my business

but you must accept help

from somebody.

You spoke to me

of your debt to Gus Trenor.

Well, I'll lend you the money

to pay him. Let me finish.

It'll be purely

a business arrangement.

How can you have

anything against that?

Only this - that is exactly

what Gus Trenor proposed.

Once the debt is paid

I shall have no security.

I have been compromised once

I cannot be so again.

I am very grateful for your kindness

but it is impossible.

You must see that.

We must try to think of your future.

If you only knew what

little difference that makes now.

At least let me tell Selden

where you're living.

- It will do no good.

- Please.

Very well.

You may tell him if you wish.

If only you would let me help you

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