The things we do!

Hortense is an empty
little thing, who thinks of her prosy fat Camille with spectacles, and of
her two children, and of nothing else in the world besides. Who is happy?
Clive!
Clive. You say Barnes's wife is not.
Ethel. We are like brother and sister, so I may talk to you. Barnes is
very cruel to her. At Newcome, last winter, poor Clara used to come into
my room with tears in her eyes morning after morning. He calls her a
fool; and seems to take a pride in humiliating her before company. My
poor father has luckily taken a great liking to her: and before him, for
he has grown very very hot-tempered since his illness, Barnes leaves poor
Clara alone. We were in hopes that the baby might make matters better,
but as it is a little girl, Barnes chooses to be very much disappointed.
He wants papa to give up his seat in Parliament, but he clings to that
more than anything. Oh, dear me! who is happy in the world? What a pity
Lord Highgate's father had not died sooner! He and Barnes have been
reconciled.


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