Part 55 (1/2)
”Of course what they say is--you're the--”
”What do I care for that?” he interrupted her. ”So that's what you were yarning so long about in your room!”
”I can tell you,” said Maggie, ”they're both of them very serious about it. So's Albert, it seems.”
”They disgust me,” he said briefly. ”Here the thing isn't a day old, and they begin worrying about his will! They go s...o...b..ring all over him downstairs, and upstairs it's nothing but his will they think about...
You can't rush at a man and talk to him about his will like that. At least, I can't--it's altogether too thick! I expect some people could.
But I can't. d.a.m.n it, you must have some sense of decency!”
Maggie remained calm and benevolent. After a pause she said--
”You see--their point is that later on he mayn't be able to make a will.”
”Look here,” he questioned amicably, meeting her eyes, ”what do you think? What do you think yourself?”
”Oh!” she said, ”I should never dream of bothering about it. I'm only telling you what--”
”Of course you wouldn't!” he exclaimed. ”No decent person would. Later on, perhaps, if one could put in a word casually! But not now! ... If he doesn't make a will he doesn't make one--that's all.”
Maggie leaned against the mantelpiece.
”Mind your skirt doesn't catch fire,” he warned her, in a murmur.
”I told them what you'd say,” she answered his outburst, perfectly unmoved. ”I knew what you'd say. But what they say is--it's all very well for you. You're the son, and it seems that if there isn't a will, if it's left too late--”
This aspect of the case had absolutely not presented itself to Edwin.
”If they think,” he muttered, with cold acrimony--”if they think I'm the sort of person to take the slightest advantage of being the son--well, they must think it--that's all! Besides, they can always talk to him themselves--if they're so desperately anxious.”
”You have charge of everything.”
”Have I! ... And I should like to know what it's got to do with auntie!”
Maggie lifted her head. ”Oh, auntie and Clara, you know--you can't separate them... Well, I've told you.”
She moved to leave.
”I say,” he stopped her, with a confidential appeal. ”Don't you agree with me?”
”Yes,” she replied simply. ”I think it ought to be left for a bit.
Perhaps he's made it, after all. Let's hope so. I'm sure it will save a lot of trouble if he has.”
”Naturally it ought to be left for a bit! Why--just look at him! ...
He might be on his blooming dying bed, to hear the way some people talk!
Let 'em mention it to me, and I'll tell 'em a thing or two!”
Maggie raised her eyebrows. She scarcely recognised Edwin.