There is only one thing that
makes a difference in this world--character. Your brother hasn't got
it."
For an instant the perfect accuracy of Cord's statements about David
left Ben silent. Then he pulled himself together and said, with a
firmness he did not wholly feel:
"You hardly do David justice. He may not have great force, but he has
talent, great sweetness, no vices--"
"Oh, quite, quite, quite, quite," said Cord, with a gesture of his
long hand that should somehow have recalled to Ben the motion of a
hand he had recently kissed.
"However," said Ben, "there is no use in arguing about our
differences. The point is we are agreed that this marriage ought not
to be. Let us co-operate on that. Where could I find David? I believe
if I could see him I'd have some effect on him."
"You mean you could talk him out of marrying the girl he loves?"
"I might make him see the folly of it."
"Well, I haven't said anything as bad about your brother as that, Mr.
Moreton. But you do him injustice. You couldn't talk him out of it,
and if you could, she'd talk him right back into it again. But there
is one thing to consider. I understand you make him an allowance. How
about stopping that?"
"I wouldn't consider that for a moment," said Ben, with more temper
than he had so far shown. "I don't make him that allowance so that
I can force him to do what I think best. I give it to him because he
needs it.
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