On no account was anyone to wear mourning
for him, nor were they to express any open sorrow. `They wouldn't
FEEL it, so why lie about it?' I use his own words," added Mr.
Hawkes, as if disclaiming all responsibility for such a remarkable
point of view.
"What a rum old bird!" remarked Alaric, contemplatively.
Mrs. Chichester wept as she said:
"He was always the most unfeeling, the most heartless--the most--"
"Now in his will--" interrupted the lawyer, producing a leather
pocket-book filled with important-looking papers: "In his will--" he
repeated--
Mrs. Chichester stopped crying:
"Eh? A will?"
"What?" said Alaric, beaming; "did the dear old gentleman leave a
will?"
Even Ethel stopped playing with "Pet" and listened languidly to the
conversation.
Mr. Hawkes, realising he had their complete interest, went on
importantly: "As Mr. Kingsnorth's legal adviser up to the time of
his untimely death I have come here to make you acquainted with some
of its contents"
He spread a formidable-looking document wide-open on the table,
adjusted his pince-nez and prepared to read. "Dear old Nat!" said
Alaric reflectively. "Do you remember, mater, we met him at Victoria
Station once when I was little more than a baby? Yet I can see him
now as plainly as if it were yesterday.
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