Then to her he burst forth, and spoke somewhat loudly.
"I cannot understand all this, mother.

If either you or my father know any reason why I should be treated differently from other sons, you ought to tell me; not leave me to grope about in the dark." "But, my boy, we both think that no son was ever entitled to more consideration, or to kinder or more liberal treatment." "Why do I hear all this, then, about the difficulty of my marrying?
Or if I hear so much, why do I not hear more?
I know pretty well, I believe, what is my father's income." "If you do not, he would tell you for the asking." "And I know that I must be the heir to it, whatever it is,--not that that feeling would make any difference in my dealings with him, not the least.

And, under these circumstances, I cannot conceive why he and you should look coldly upon my marriage." "I look coldly on it, Herbert!" "Do you not?
Do you not tell me that there will be no income for me?
If that is to be so; if that really is the case; if the property has so dwindled away, or become embarrassed--" "Oh, Herbert! there never was a man less likely to injure his son's property than your father." "I do not mean that, mother.

Let him do what he likes with it, I should not upbraid him, even in my thoughts.

But if it be embarrassed; if it has dwindled away; if there be any reason why I should not regard myself as altogether untrammelled with regard to money, he ought to tell me.