'I said, "Mother, I never wanted to leave the convent, it was you who wanted me home." "No," she said, "it was not I, it was your father. But now that you are here I should like you to make a good marriage." Then she turned and kissed me.... I don't want to say anything against mother; she loves me, I'm sure: but we're so different, I shall never understand mother, I shall never get on in society. I cannot, father, dear, I cannot, I feel so far away; I do not know what to say to the people I meet. I do not feel that I understand them when they speak to me; I am far away, that is what I feel; I shall never get over that feeling; I shall not succeed, and then mother will get to hate me.... I am so unhappy, father, I'm so unhappy.' Agnes dropped on her knees, and throwing her arms on her father's shoulder, she said: 'But, father, you're not listening. Listen to me, I've only you.' 'I'm thinking.' 'Of what?' 'Of many things.' 'Poor father, you have a great deal to think of, and I come interrupting your work. How selfish I am.' 'No, dear, you're not selfish.... I'm very glad you told me. So you think you'll never get on in society.' 'I don't think I'm suited for society.' 'I'm afraid you think that all society is like our drawing-room?' 'How was it, father, that our drawing-room came to be what it is?' 'A great deal of it is my fault, dear. When I lost my money I got disheartened, and little by little I lost control. One day I was told that as I paid for nothing I had no right to grumble. Your mother said, in reply to some question about me, that I was "merely an expense." I believe the phrase was considered very clever, it went the round of society, and eventually was put into a play. And that is why I told you that money is everything, that it is difficult to be truthful, honourable, or respectable if you have no money, a little will do, but you must have a little, if you haven't you aren't respectable, you're nothing, you become like me, a mere expense.... I've borne it for your sake, dearest.' 'For my sake, father, what do you mean?' 'Never mind, best not to ask.... My dearest daughter, I would bear it all over again for your sake. But it is maddening work, it goes to the head at last. It makes one feel as if something was giving way there,' he said, touching his forehead, 'it does indeed.' 'But, father, you mustn't bear this any longer, not for my sake, father, no, not for my sake; you must find some way out of it.'