you insist that the money should come to Uncle Ernest! What about Uncle Nick? What about Renny? Renny's had the whole family to keep for years!"
"Shut up!" growled Renny, savagely.
"How dare you insult us?" cried Augusta. "This is my brothers' home! I have been here to look after my mother. What could she have done without me, I should like to know?"
"Kept up an establishment of her own! She'd plenty of money!"
Nicholas pointed with his pipe at Piers. "Say one word more!" he thundered. He struggled to rise, but could not. Ernest sprang up, trembling, and went to him. Grasping his arm, he pulled him to his feet. Augusta also went to him, and the three stood together facing the younger generation.
"I repeat what I said," said Piers.
Renny interrupted: "It doesn't matter what he says! I've never grudged"
Nicholas exclaimed, sardonically: "Well, now, that's handsome of you! Very handsome of you! You haven't grudged us a roof! Our meals! We ought to feel grateful. Eh, Augusta? Eh, Ernest?"
Renny's face went white. "I don't understand you. You purposely put me in the wrong!"
Augusta drew back her head with an almost snakelike movement. "If I had ever known! If I had ever dreamed! But, never mind, I shall be going back to England soon."
"For God's sake, be fair!" cried Renny. "Have I ever acted as though I didn't want any one of you here? I have always wanted you. I always wanted Gran!"
Piers burst out: "That's the trouble! Renny's been too generous. And now this is the thanks he gets!"
"You to talk!" snarled Nicholas. "You who brought your wife here, when everyone was against it!"
"Yes, and who was she?" thrust Augusta.
Nicholas proceeded: "And what did she do? Made a little hell here!"
