"Thank you again, Robert, for rescuing my sometimes good-for-nothing son."
"You are welcome, although I doubt that I really did make a difference."
"I think you did. You were rather impressive when you talked to the senate committee."
"Although I really couldn't tell them anything."
"Maybe not. But it impressed them that Harold has such a brother-in-law. Someone who is so self- assured. There was no doubt for them that you were telling the truth. Harold is very thankful, too."
"I know."
"He told me that you two had a falling out last night."
"We didn't have a falling out. All I did was tell him that I thought that he was a cad. And I only did that because he kept telling me that he couldn't believe that Cora and I, well it doesn't matter."
"You did it for her, didn't you? You came all this way over here, not because I asked you to rescue my son but because she asked you to rescue her brother."
"Does it make a difference?"
"Yes, it does."
"I came here; I did what you wanted me to do. Why does it matter whether I did it because you asked me or because Cora asked me? "
"Because it puts your motives into a different light. Had you done it because I asked you to, it would have shown a sense of family obligation."
"I do have strong sense of that. The wayward daughter of a cousin of mine has been living with us for a year because her parents asked us to take her in because they had to go to India. That isn't exactly a 'piece of cake', as Cora would say."
"You did what she asked you to do because you love her. Don't deny it, Robert."
"Of course that is why I did it."
"So you do love her?"
"Why is that so hard to believe for Harold and you? Of course I love her, I've loved her for more than three decades now and I am sure that she has mentioned me in her letters from time to time. And you've seen us a lot oftener than Harold did, you should know how I feel about her, how we feel about each other."
"When she accepted your proposal I told her that I thought that it was a mistake because you only wanted her for her money. I know you told my husband that you wanted to make her happy and we both believed you because you were already decent and dignified when you were 19 and we were sure that you wouldn't hurt or mistreat her, but when I saw her walk down that aisle, I thought that we had sold our daughter to a loveless marriage only because my husband wanted his grandson to be titled."
"I know that you worry about her. I worry about our girls quite a lot and Cora does too. But it was never just for the money. I can't say that I loved her when we got married, but I certainly liked her. And many of the things I said and did afterwards I only said and did because I didn't recognize my confused feelings for what they were."
"Anyway, I am glad you are making her so blissfully happy."
"Am I?"
"That is what she says."
"Good. Listen, I want to surprise her and the girls. Don't tell them that I basically am on my way home now."
"A mystery."
"I wouldn't call it that."
"Regardless of that Robert, safe travels. And we will see you in May or June."
"Yes."
"Goodbye Robert."
"Goodbye."