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who quite agrees—can I possibly stand by； and suffer her to throw
herself away （although she is of a Catholic family）； upon a young
fellow who； as yet； has no heart at all？ It is no imputation upon
him to say he has not； because young men who have plunged
deeply into the frivolities and conventionalities of society； very
seldom have。 Their hearts never grow； my dear ma’am； till after
thirty。 I don’t believe； no； I do not believe； that I had any heart
myself when I was Ned’s age。’
‘Oh sir；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘I think you must have had。 It’s
impossible that you； who have so much now； can ever have been
without any。’
‘I hope；’ he answered； shrugging his shoulders meekly； ‘I have a
little； I hope； a very little—Heaven knows！ But to return to Ned； I
have no doubt you thought； and therefore interfered benevolently
in his behalf； that I objected to Miss Haredale。 How very natural！
My dear madam； I object to him—to him—emphatically to Ned
himself。’
Mrs Varden was perfectly aghast at the disclosure。
‘He has； if he honourably fulfils this solemn obligation of which
I have told you—and he must be honourable； dear Mrs Varden； or
he is no son of mine—a fortune within his reach。 He is of most
expensive； ruinously expensive habits； and if； in a moment of
caprice and wilfulness； he were to marry this young lady； and so
deprive himself of the means of gratifying the tastes to which he
has been so long accustomed； he would—my dear madam； he
would break the gentle creature’s heart。 Mrs Varden； my good
lady； my dear soul； I put it to you—is such a sacrifice to be
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endured？ Is the female heart a thing to be trifled with in this way？
Ask your own； my dear madam。 Ask your own； I beseech you。’
‘Truly；’ thought Mrs Varden； ‘this gentleman is a saint。 But；’
she added aloud； and not unnaturally； ‘if you take Miss Emma’s
lover away； sir； what becomes of the poor thing’s heart then？’
‘The very point；’ said Mr Chester； not at all abashed； ‘to which I
wished to lead you。 A marriage with my son； whom I should be
compelled to disown； would be followed by years of misery； they
would be separated； my dear madam； in a twelvemonth。 To break
off this attachment； which is more fancied than real； as you and I
know very well； will cost the dear girl but a few tears； and she is
happy again。 Take the case of your own daughter； the young lady
downstairs； who is your breathing image’—Mrs Varden coughed
and simpered—‘there is a young man （I am sorry to say； a
dissolute fellow； of very indifferent character） of whom I have
heard Ned speak—Bullet was it—Pullet—Mullet—’
‘There is a young man of the name of Joseph Willet； sir；’ said
Mrs Varden； folding her hands loftily。
‘That’s he；’ cried Mr Chester。 ‘Suppose this Joseph Willet now；
were to aspire to the affections of your charming daughter； and
were to engage them。’
‘It would be like his impudence；’ interposed Mrs Varden；
bridling； ‘to dare to think of such a thing！’
‘My dear madam； that’s the whole case。 I know it would be like
his impudence。 It is like Ned’s impudence to do as he has done；
but you would not on that account； or because of a few tears from
your beautiful daughter； refrain from checking their inclinations
in their birth。 I meant to have reasoned thus with your husband
when I saw him at Mrs Rudge’s this evening—’
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‘My husband；’ said Mrs Varden； interposing with emotion；
‘would be a great deal better at home than going to Mrs Rudge’s so
often。 I don’t know what he does there。 I don’t see what occasion
he has to busy himself in her affairs at all； sir。’
‘If I don’t appear to express my concurrence in those last
sentiments of yours；’ returned Mr Chester； ‘quite so strongly as
you might desire； it is because his being there； my dear madam；
and not proving conversational； led me hither； and procured me
the happiness of this interview with one； in whom the whole
management； conduct； and prosperity of her family are centred； I
perceive。’
With that he took Mrs Varden’s hand again； and having pressed
it to his lips with the highflown gallantry of the day—a little
burlesqued to render it the more striking in the good lady’s
unaccustomed eyes—proceeded in the same strain of mingled
sophistry； cajolery； and flattery； to entreat that her utmost
influence might be exerted to restrain her husband and daughter
from any further promotion of Edward’s suit to Miss Haredale；
and from aiding or abetting either party in any way。 Mrs Varden
was but a woman； and had her share of vanity； obstinacy； and love
of power。 She entered into a secret treaty of alliance； offensive and
defensive； with her insinuating visitor； and really did believe； as
many others would have done who saw and heard him； that in so
doing she furthered the ends of truth； justice； and morality； in a
very uncommon degree。
Overjoyed by the success of his negotiation； and mightily
amused within himself； Mr Chester conducted her downstairs in
the same state as before； and having repeated the previous
ceremony of salutation； which also as before comprehended Dolly；
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took his leave； first completing the conquest of Miss Miggs’s heart；
by inquiring if ‘this young lady’ would light him to the door。
‘Oh； mim；’ said Miggs； returning with the candle。 ‘Oh gracious
me； mim； there’s a gentleman！ Was there ever such an angel to
talk as he is—and such a sweet…looking man！ So upright and
noble； that he seems to despise the very ground he walks on； and
yet so mild and condescending； that he seems to say “but I will
take notice on it too。” And to think of his taking you for Miss Dolly；
and Miss Dolly for your sister—Oh； my goodness me； if I was
master wouldn’t I be jealous of him！’
Mrs Varden reproved her handmaid for this vain…speaking； but
very gently and mildly—quite smilingly indeed—remarking that
she was a foolish； giddy； light…headed girl； whose spirits carried
her beyond all bounds； and who didn’t mean half she said； or she
would be quite angry with her。
‘For my part；’ said Dolly； in a thoughtful manner； ‘I half believe
Mr Chester is something like Miggs in that respect。 For all his
politeness and pleasant speaking； I am pretty sure he was making
game of us； more than once。’
‘If you venture to say such a thing again； and to speak ill of
people behind their backs in my presence； miss；’ said Mrs Varden；
‘I shall insist upon your taking a candle and going to bed directly。
How dare you； Dolly？ I’m astonished at you。 The rudeness of your
whole behaviour this evening has been disgraceful。 Did anybody
ever hear；’ cried the enraged matron； bursting into tears； ‘of a
daughter telling her own mother she has been made game of！’
What a very uncertain temper Mrs Varden’s was！
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Chapter 28
epairing to a noted coffee…house in Covent Garden