"Yes, mother, yes. Common sense you said."
"Can't you see, that to bring her here, where she does not belong—where she never will be received as belonging, even though she is your wife—will only cause suffering to you both? Eventually misunderstandings will arise, then will come alienation and unhappiness. Then again, yours must be in a measure a public life, unless you mean to shirk responsibility. Has your country no claim on you?"
"I have no thought of shirking my duty, and am prepared to think and act also—"
"You wish it to be effective? Has it never occurred to you how your avenues will be cut off if you marry a wife beneath your class?"
"What in God's name will my wife have to do with England's African policy? Damme—"
"David!"
"Mother—I beg your pardon—"
"She may have everything to do with it. No man can stand alone and foist his ideas upon such a body of men, without backing. Instead of hampering yourself with an ignorant mountain girl from America, you should have allied yourself to a strong family of position here, if you would be a power in England. What sort of a Lady Thryng will your present wife