"Your tone and manner, my good friend, are no doubt provoked by the report in the newspaper of this morning. In justice to you, Irefuse to believe the report." So Mrs. Newsham adopted her friend's suggestion.
"You kindness is thrown away, Elizabeth. The report is true.""Matilda, you shock me!"
"Why?"
"At your age!"
"If _he_ doesn't object to my age, what does it matter to _you?_""Don't speak of that man!"
"Why not?"
"He is young enough to be your son; and he is marrying you--impudently, undisguisedly marrying you--for your money!""And I am marrying him--impudently, undisguisedly marrying him--for his rank.""You needn't remind me, Matilda, that you are the daughter of a tailor.""In a week or two more, Elizabeth, I shall remind you that I am the wife of a nobleman's son.""A younger son; don't forget that."
