The House of Mirth Page #3

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

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