"Then I may take it you refuse?" queried the astonished lawyer.
"Absolutely!" from Mrs. Chichester.
"Entirely!" from Ethel.
"I should say so!" and Alaric brought up the rear.
Mr. Hawkes gathered up his papers and in a tone of regret ventured:
"Then there is nothing more to be said. I was only carrying out the
dead man's wishes by coming here and making the facts known to you.
Mr. Kingsnorth was of the opinion that you were well provided for
and, that, outside of the sentimental reason that the girl was your
own niece, the additional thousand pounds a year might be welcome
as, say, pin-money for your daughter."
Ethel laughed her dry, cheerless little laugh. "Ha! Pin-money!"
Alaric grew suddenly grave and drew his mother and sister out of Mr.
Hawkes' vicinity.
"Listen, mater--Ethel. It's a cool thousand, you know? Thousands
don't grow on raspberry bushes when your bank's gone up. What do ye
think, eh?"
Mrs. Chichester brightened:
"It would keep things together," she said.
"The wolf from the door," urged Alaric.
"No charity," chimed in Ethel.
Mrs. Chichester looked from daughter to son. "Well? What do you
think?"
"Whatever you say, mater," from Alaric.
"You decide, mamma," from Ethel.
"We might try it for a while, at least," said Mrs.
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