Part 9 (2/2)

The day following the first momentous interview, Lord Radclyffe spent in lawyers' company--Mr. Davies in Finsbury Court, then Mr. Dobson in Bedford Row. The latter argued and counselled. Though papers might be to all appearances correct and quite in order, there was no hurry to come to a decision. But Lord Radclyffe--with that same dictatorial obstinacy with which he had originally branded the claimant as an impostor and a blackmailer--now clung to his reversed opinion.

Convinced--beyond doubt, apparently--that Philip de Mountford was his brother Arthur's son, he insisted on acknowledging him openly as his heir, and on showering on him all those luxuries and privileges which Luke had enjoyed for so many years.

Indignant and mentally sore, Jim and Edie protested with all the violence of youth, violence which proved as useless as it was ill-considered. Luke said nothing, for he foresaw that the end was inevitable. He set about making a home for his younger brothers and sister to be ready for them as soon as the cataclysm came, when Philip de Mountford, usurping every right, would turn his cousins out of the old home.

Frank, absent at Santiago--a young attache out at his first post--had been told very little as yet. Luke had tried to break the news to him in a guarded letter, which received but the following brief and optimistic answer:

”Why, old man! what's the matter with you? worrying over such rubbish?

Take my advice and go to Carlsbad. Your liver must be out of order.”

But the catastrophe came, nevertheless; sooner even than was expected.

Edie's language grew very unguarded in Philip's presence, and Jim--”in the Blues”--did not watch over his own manners when the new cousin was in the house.

One evening when Luke was absent--as was very often the case now--and the family gathering consisted of Lord Radclyffe--sullen and morose; Philip, pleasantly condescending; and Jim and Edie, snubbed and wrathful, a difference in political opinion between the young people set a spark to the smouldering ashes.

Philip--still pleasantly condescending--did not say much that evening, though he had been called a cad and an upstart, and told to go back to his n.i.g.g.e.r relations; but the next morning Jim and Edie received a curt admonition from Lord Radclyffe, during which they were told that if such a disgraceful exhibition of impertinence occurred again, they would have to go and pitch their tent elsewhere.

They brought their grievance to Luke; told him all that they had treasured up in their rebellious young hearts against the usurper, and much that they had hitherto kept from the elder brother, who already, G.o.d knows! had a sufficient load of disappointment to bear.

What could Luke do but promise that Jim and Edie should in future have a house of their own, wherein neither usurper nor upstarts would have access, and where they could nurse their wrath in peace and unsnubbed.

For the first time since many, many days Luke was alone with his uncle in the library. Philip was out, and Lord Radclyffe was taken unawares.

What Luke would never have dreamed of doing for himself he did for his brothers and sister; he made appeal to his uncle's sense of right, of justice, and of mercy.

”Uncle Rad,” he said, ”you have told us all so often that this should be a home for us all. It doesn't matter about me, but the others--Jim and Edie--they haven't offended you, have they?”

Lord Radclyffe was fretful and irritable. When Luke first came in, it had almost seemed as if he would order him to go. Such an old man he looked--sour and morose--his clothes hung more loosely than before on an obviously attenuated frame. He seemed careworn and worried, and Luke's heart, which could not tear itself away from the memories of past kindness, ached to see the change.

”Would you,” he asked insistently, ”would you rather we went away, Uncle Rad?”

The old man s.h.i.+fted about uneasily in his chair. He would not meet Luke's eyes any more than he would take his hand just now.

”Jim and Edie,” he said curtly, ”are very ill-mannered, and Philip feels----”

He pa.s.sed his tongue over his lips which were parched and dry. A look--it was a mere flash--almost of appeal pa.s.sed from his eyes to Luke.

”Then,” said Luke simply, ”it is this--this Philip whom Jim and Edie have offended? Not you, Uncle Rad?”

”Philip is your uncle Arthur's son,” rejoined Lord Radclyffe, speaking like a fretful child in a thin voice that cracked now and again. ”He will be the head of the family presently----”

”Not,” interposed Luke earnestly, ”before many years are past, I trust and pray for all our sakes, Uncle Rad----”

”The sooner,” continued the old man, not heeding the interruption, ”those young jackanapes learn to respect him, the better it will be for them.”

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