After this, of her own movement, she
never spoke of Gordon, and Bernard made up his mind that she had
promised her mother to accept him if he should repeat his proposal, and
that as her heart was not in the matter she preferred to drop a veil
over the prospect. "She is going to marry him for his money," he said,
"because her mother has brought out the advantages of the thing. Mrs.
Vivian's persuasive powers have carried the day, and the girl has made
herself believe that it does n't matter that she does n't love him.
Perhaps it does n't--to her; it 's hard, in such a case, to put one's
self in the woman's point of view. But I should think it would matter,
some day or other, to poor Gordon. She herself can't help suspecting it
may make a difference in his happiness, and she therefore does n't wish
to seem any worse to him than is necessary. She wants me to speak well
of her; if she intends to deceive him she expects me to back her up.
The wish is doubtless natural, but for a proud girl it is rather an odd
favor to ask. Oh yes, she 's a proud girl, even though she has been
able to arrange it with her conscience to make a mercenary marriage. To
expect me to help her is perhaps to treat me as a friend; but she ought
to remember--or at least I ought to remember--that Gordon is an older
friend than she.
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