Page:Tales of John Oliver Hobbes.djvu/24

8 the true test of a book—would one wish to have it in one's drawing-room?"

"His article in last month's Waverley was beautiful," said her daughter, who blushed painfully after she had spoken. "Grace reads all the learned Reviews," explained Lady Hemingway; "she goes in for Higher Education, you know. But," she went on, "does Godfrey make much by his writing? That is the point. I know he has his mother's two hundred and fifty, but no one could call that an income. He'll have to marry money—so far as I can see." "I'm afraid he wouldn't do that," said Mrs. Golightly; "he has very peculiar views about marriage. You see Constance brought him up almost entirely herself. I think he would marry a girl without a penny, if he took a fancy to her." "How wrong to bring up a boy with such notions," said Lady Hemingway, "and after her own bitter experience." "She lived very happily with her husband, you know," said Mrs. Golightly. " I really think they were attached to each other—quite to the end. Don't you find that artists, and musicians, and literary people seem to feel more than those with more—well, more everyday pursuits?" "Their feelings are always getting them into trouble, I know that," said Lady Hemingway, "and they are generally dreadfully poor. Look at Constance!" "She never seemed to mind her poverty," said Mrs. Golightly; "she bore it quite happily. Sometimes—it sounds ridiculous—I almost envied her,