‘You could not make an effort for your mother, Graham?’ said Eleanor.
‘Graham, some day you may tell people what was the bitterest moment of your life,’ said Daniel.
Fulbert signed towards the dining-room.
‘Is it wise to keep the old man waiting for his luncheon?’
Luce tiptoed to the room and back again, with a smile spreading over her face.
‘We have not done so, Father.’
‘We may as well go and catch him up,’ said Fulbert, walking through the open door.
Sir Jesse gave no sign while his family took their seats, but presently turned to Graham.
‘I mentioned to you that I saw those lists in the Times. I asked you if I was to believe the evidence of my eyes. You did not answer my question.’
‘Well, I wish you would not do so, Grandpa.’
‘Am I to gather there is some mistake?’
‘Things in the Times tend to be true. And the same must be said of the testimony of people’s senses.’
‘Are you speaking to me?’
‘I am answering you, Grandpa.’
‘Would you prefer to be apprenticed to a shoemaker or a shoeblack?’
‘The first; I should say there is no comparison. The work would be more skilled and more remunerative.’
‘Good reasons, my boy,’ said Fulbert, under his breath.
‘Why are unsuccessful sons supposed to apply themselves to callings connected with shoes?’ said Daniel.
‘No wonder good boots seem so very good,’ said Graham. ‘A great deal of good blood must be behind the making of them.’
‘If you cannot apply your sharpness to your work, I want none of it,’ said Sir Jesse.
‘Miss Mitford was so pleased about your place, Daniel,’ said Luce. ‘She also saw the lists in the Times.’
‘The Times?’ said Sir Jesse, Regan and Eleanor at once.
‘Not the family copy,’ said Luce, laughing. ‘She has her own.’
‘How like her!’ said Regan, her tone almost giving way under her feeling.
‘Why, Grandma, she may want to know the news of the day.’
‘And no doubt does what she wants,’ said Regan, in the same tone.
‘You appear to be eating your luncheon, Graham,’ said Sir Jesse, seeming to view ordinary proceeding in his grandson, as his wife did in the governess. ‘What are your ideas about your ultimate provision?’
‘If only Graham could be cured, what problems it would solve!’ said Daniel.
‘You have never needed to have any on the subject yourself, Grandpa,’ said Graham.
‘You need not compare yourself with me. I have done many other things.’
‘Yes, I know you have,’ said Graham, drawing his mother’s eyes.
‘Do you feel no gratitude to me for your home and your education?’
‘You make me pay too heavy a price for them.’
‘I hope that sort of payment will stand you in stead with other people.’
The three children ran into the room in outdoor clothes.
‘They have just come in to see us,’ said Eleanor. ‘I thought they would be too much for their father today. He is not strong yet.’
‘Come and have a piece of my chicken,’ said Fulbert, to his youngest son.
Nevill came up and waited while a spoon was supplied, not standing very close or looking at the process.
‘Did you like it?’ said his father.
‘No, it burnt his tongue,’ said Nevill, and turned away.
‘How shall I pay for my future portions of chicken?’ said Graham.
‘I should be glad to know,’ said Sir Jesse.
‘Why can’t Graham just be a man like Grandpa and Father?’ said Gavin, who had grasped the nature of the conversation.
‘He has no money,’ said Eleanor. ‘You will all have to earn your living.’
‘Shall we? I thought it was only James.’
‘No, of course not. You are all in the same position.’
‘Then I shall be a traveller.’
‘You would not earn much like that.’
‘If I confronted great dangers, I should.’
‘Who would pay you for doing it? It would not be much good to other people.’
‘There are societies who pay,’ said Honor. ‘People like things to be discovered.’
‘Graham’s occupation is the immediate point,’ said Sir Jesse.
‘I thought you had arranged it, sir,’ said Graham.
‘He will call Grandpa, sir,’ said Nevill, in an admiring tone.
‘Shall we say a word about Daniel?’ said Fulbert. ‘We may as well dwell upon our success.’
‘He knows how glad and proud he has made us,’ said Eleanor. ‘We do not need to talk about it.’
‘I also have grasped the general feeling,’ said Graham.
‘I suppose Graham will be a tutor,’ said Sir Jesse, in a tone that did not exalt this calling.
‘I should be the first of Miss Mitford’s pupils to follow in her steps.’
Why isn’t it nice to be a tutor?’ said Honor. ‘Royal people have tutors, and their names are put in the papers.’
‘So are the ladies-in-waiting,’ said Sir Jesse.
‘Grandpa spoke to Honor,’ said Nevill, impressed by this equal answer.
‘Does Hatton also have the Times?’ said Fulbert.
‘Hatton has it all,’ said Nevill.
‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’ said Fulbert, catching his son and lifting him to his knee.
‘He will be a king,’ said Nevill, reconciling himself to his situation.
‘Then you will be above your father.’
‘Yes, Father is only a man.’
‘Why do you want to look down on us all?’
‘He will take care of you. And he will take care of Hatton and Mullet too.’
‘And what will Hatton be?’
‘She will be a lady when he marries her.’
‘But then she will be a queen.’
‘No, he will. There is only one. Hatton likes it to be him.’
‘What will the rest of us be?’
‘All stand round him and wear long clothes. Not a king, but very nice.’
‘And what will you wear?’
‘A crown.’
‘He has seen a picture,’ said Luce.
‘He will sit on a throne,’ said Nevill, raising his arms, ‘And a man will kneel down on a cushion with his gold stick.’
‘I am going to leave the table before that office is suggested for me,’ said Graham, to his brother. ‘It seems to have points in common with that of a shoeblack. You can come with me to cover my retreat.’
‘Where are you going?’ said Daniel, when they gained the hall.
‘To visit the Mariowes. That is a thing that Grandpa would dislike. You can come and scan their faces for signs of their parentage. That is what you want to do. I am glad I am not so nearly related to Grandpa.’
‘We must keep a stern hold on our tongues.’
‘Oh, I will keep Grandpa’s guilty secrets,’ said Graham, relapsing into his usual manner. ‘And in future I will commit errors base enough to be hushed up.’
‘He feels you have caused him to waste his substance. And I see there have been drains upon it. A second family is not exactly an economy.’
‘He has rendered it as much of one as possible,’ said Graham, looking at the cottage. ‘Why did he establish the fruits of his sin at his gates?’
‘Because he could do it most cheaply there,’ said Daniel, hardly realizing that he spoke the simple truth.
Priscilla came at once to meet them.
‘Well, there ought to be a bond between us. We all thought we were fatherless, and we all find we are not.’
‘So the truth has escaped,’ said Daniel, ‘and with its accustomed dispatch.’
‘And we find that our feelings do not go beyond speech. And we are glad of that. The speech will be a relief. We are looking forward to it.’