What sort of abortion had the English governess—young Philip's second wife—produced? That they, Courts and Whiteoaks—gentlemen, soldiers, "god-damming" country squires—should come to this! A white-faced, wincing boy who did fantastic things in his attic room while his family slept! And to this one had old Adeline, toughest-fibred of them all, left her money!
Their invincible repugnance toward such a deviation from their traditions caused a tremor of bewilderment to shake their tenacity. Finch, slumping on his ottoman, seemed a creature apart.
But this spurious advantage was soon past. The circle tightened again.
Nicholas, his chin gripped in his hand, said: "When I was at Oxford there were fellows who did that sort of thing. I never thought to see a nephew of mine . . ."
"He'll be turning Papist next," said Piers. "Look at those candles he set up around poor old Gran!"
"Yes, and you allowed him to do it!" exclaimed Augusta, accusingly to Nicholas.
Nicholas ignored this. He continued: "You expect us to believe that you hoped to gain nothing by my mother's will, when in secret she was giving you valuable presents?"
"I didn't know it was valuable."
Meg cried: "You must have thought it was very strange that she should be giving away things she had treasured all these years! The goddess—the ruby ring!"
"What motive had you in hiding the present?" probed Nicholas.
"I dunno."
"Yes. You do know. Don't lie. We're going to get to the bottom of this!"
"Well, it was hers, I thought. I didn't think—I knew she wouldn't want it mentioned."
"And what else?"
"I thought I'd get into a row."
"Just for having a present given you? Come, now!"
Ernest interjected: "But why should she have given him anything? I can't make it out!"
