“Good night, Greenmantle. Shan’t I see you again before you go?” To this the banker made no direct answer, but at once took his leave.
“That man is the greatest ass in all Plumplington,” the Doctor said to his wife within five minutes of the time of which the hall door was closed behind the banker’s back. “He’s got an idea into his head about having some young county swell for his son-in-law.”
“Harry Gresham. Harry is too idle to earn money by a profession, and therefore wants Greenmantle’s money to live upon. There’s Peppercorn wants something of the same kind for Polly. People are such fools.” But Mrs. Freeborn’s two daughters had been married much after the same fashion. They had taken husbands nearly as old as their father, because Dr. Freeborn and his wife had thought much of “blood.”
On the next morning Philip Hughes was summoned by the banker into the more official of the two back parlours. Since he had presumed to signify his love for Emily, he had never been asked to enjoy the familiarity of the other chamber. “Mr. Hughes, you may probably have heard it asserted that I am about to leave Plumplington for a prolonged residence in foreign parts.” Mr. Hughes had heard it and so declared. “Yes, Mr. Hughes, I am about to proceed to the south of France. My daughter’s health requires attention—and indeed on my own behalf I am in need of some change as well. I have not as yet officially made known my views to the Directors.”
“There will be, I should think, no impediment with them.”
“I cannot say. But at any rate I shall go. After forty years of service in the Bank I cannot think of allowing the peculiar views of men who are all younger than myself to interfere with my comfort. I shall go.”
“I suppose so, Mr. Greenmantle.”
“I shall go. I say it without the slightest disrespect for the Board. But I shall go.”
“Will it be permanent, Mr. Greenmantle?”
“That is a question which I am not prepared to answer at a moment’s notice. I do not propose to move my furniture for six months. It would not, I believe, be within the legal power of the Directors to take possession of the Bank house for that period.”
“I am quite sure they would not wish it.”
“Perhaps my assurance on that subject may be of more avail. At any rate they will not remove me. I should not have troubled you on this subject were it not that your position in the Bank must be affected more or less.”
“I suppose that I could do the work for six months,” said Philip Hughes.
But this was a view of the case which did not at all suit Mr. Greenmantle’s mind. His own duties at Plumplington had been, to his thinking, the most important ever confided to a Bank Manager. There was a peculiarity about Plumplington of which no one knew the intricate details but himself. The man did not exist who could do the work as he had done it. But still he had determined to go, and the work must be entrusted to some man of lesser competence. “I should think it probable,” he said, “that some confidential clerk will be sent over from Barchester. Your youth, Mr. Hughes, is against you. It is not for me to say what line the Directors may determine to take.”
“I know the people better than anyone can do in Barchester.”
“Just so. But you will excuse me if I say you may for that reason be the less efficient. I have thought it expedient, however, to tell you of my views. If you have any steps that you wish to take you can now take them.”
Then Mr. Greenmantle paused, and had apparently brought the meeting to an end. But there was still something which he wished to say. He did think that by a word spoken in due season—by a strong determined word, he might succeed in putting an end to this young man’s vain and ambitious hopes. He did not wish to talk to the young man about his daughter; but, if the strong word might avail here was the opportunity. “Mr. Hughes,” he began.
“Yes, sir.”
“There is a subject on which perhaps it would be well that I should be silent.” Philip, who knew the manager thoroughly, was now aware of what was coming, and thought it wise that he should say nothing at the moment. “I do not know that any good can be done by speaking of it.” Philip still held his tongue. “It is a matter no doubt of extreme delicacy—of the most extreme delicacy I may say. If I go abroad as I intend, I shall as a matter of course take with me—Miss Greenmantle.”
“I suppose so.”
“I shall take with me—Miss Greenmantle. It is not to be supposed that when I go abroad for a prolonged sojourn in foreign parts, that I should leave—Miss Greenmantle behind me.”
“No doubt she will accompany you.”
“Miss Greenmantle will accompany me. And it is not improbable that my prolonged residence may in her case be—still further prolonged. It may be possible that she should link her lot in life to some gentleman whom she may meet in those realms.”
“I hope not,” said Philip.
“I do not think that you are justified, Mr. Hughes, in hoping anything in reference to my daughter’s fate in life.”
“All the same, I do.”
“It is very—very—! I do not wish to use strong language, and therefore I will not say impertinent.”
“What am I to do when you tell me that she is to marry a foreigner?”
“I never said so. I never thought so. A foreigner! Good heavens! I spoke of a gentleman whom she might chance to meet in those realms. Of course I meant an English gentleman.”
“The truth is, Mr. Greenmantle, I don’t want your daughter to marry anyone unless she can marry me.”
“A
