To me it stands for all that is mean and
selfish and vain and ignorant. The power of money over intellect.
How did we become owners of this miserable piece of land? A
Kingsnorth swindled its rightful owner. Lent him money on usury,
bought up his bills and his mortgages and when he couldn't pay
foreclosed on him. No wander there's a curse on the village and on
us!"
Kingsnorth tried to speak, but she stopped him:
"Wait a moment. It was a good stroke of business taking this estate
away. Oh yes, it was a good stroke of business. Our name has been
built up on 'good strokes of business.' Well, I tell you it's a BAD
stroke of business when human lives are put into the hands of such
creatures as we Kingsnorths have proved ourselves!"
"Stop!" cried Nathaniel, outraged to the innermost sanctuary of his
being. "Stop! You don't speak like one of our family. It is like
listening to some heretic--some--"
"I don't feel like one of your family. YOU are a KINGSNORTH. _I_ am
my MOTHER'S child. My poor, gentle, patient mother, who lived a life
of unselfish resignation: who welcomed death, when it came to her,
as a release from tyranny. Don't call ME a Kingsnorth. I know the
family too well. I know all the name means to the people who have
suffered through YOUR FAMILY.
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