A Family and a Fortune Read Online Free PDF Page B

that is what we will call them.’
    â€˜We need not decide,’ said Clement. ‘Aunt Matty will do that.’
    â€˜Aunt Matty would never use exaggerated terms for anything to do with herself.’
    â€˜There are other ways of exaggerating,’ said Mark.
    â€˜Mrs Gaveston,’ said Mr Penrose, balancing the spoon on his finger, to show that his words were not very serious to him, ‘it may interest you to hear how Mrs Penrose and I arranged rooms on a somewhat similar scale, as I gather, as those you mention.’
    â€˜Yes, we should like to hear indeed.’
    â€˜Thank you very much, Mr Penrose,’ said Justine warmly, sitting forward with her eyes on Mr Penrose’s face.
    â€˜We selected large patterns for the carpets, to give an impression of space, though it might hardly be thought that the choice would have that result. And we kept the walls plain with the same purpose.’
    â€˜We can have the walls plain,’ said Justine, ‘but we must use the carpets at our disposal, Mr Penrose. We are not as fortunate as you were.’
    â€˜We shall not be able to write in time for them to hear by the first post,’ said Blanche. ‘I hope it won’t seem that we are in any doubt about it.’
    â€˜About the sacrifice,’ said Dudley. ‘I hope not. I said that people were pleased by other people’s sacrifice. They would not like them to have any hesitation in making it.’
    â€˜It would be an unwilling sacrifice,’ said Aubrey.
    â€˜Another point to be made,’ continued Mr Penrose –
    â€˜Yes, Mr Penrose, one moment,’ said Justine, leaning to her father and laying a hand on his arm, while glancing back at the tutor. ‘It is very kind and we are so interested, but one moment. Would it not be better, Father, to send the letter into the town to catch the afternoon post? Things always get to Grandpa in the morning if we do that.’
    â€˜It might be - it probably would be better, I will write directly after luncheon, or as soon as we have decided what to say. What is Mr Penrose telling us?’
    â€˜It does not matter, Mr Gaveston. I was only mentioning that in the experience of Mrs Penrose and myself - it is ofno consequence,’ said Mr Penrose, observing that Justine had turned to her mother, and resuming the spoon.
    â€˜Indeed it is of consequence,’ almost called Justine, leaning towards Blanche over Aubrey and giving another backward glance.
    â€˜You have one of our seventeenth-century spoons?’ said Edgar.
    â€˜Yes, Mr Gaveston, I was wondering if it was one of them. I see it is not,’ said Mr Penrose, laying down a spoon which his scrutiny had enabled him to assign to his own day. ‘You have some very beautiful ones, have you not?’
    â€˜They are all put away, Mr Penrose,’ called Justine, in a voice which seemed to encourage Mr Penrose with the admission of economy. ‘We are not allowed to use them any more. They only come out on special occasions.’
    â€˜Do go and write the letter, Edgar,’ said Blanche.
    â€˜Poor Father, let him have his luncheon in peace.’
    â€˜He has finished, dear. He is only playing with that fruit and wasting it.’
    â€˜Waste not, want not, Father,’ said Justine, in a warning tone which seemed to be directed to Mr Penrose’s ears.
    Edgar rose and left the room with his brother, and Justine’s eyes followed them.
    â€˜Are they not a perfect pair, Mr Penrose?’
    â€˜Yes, indeed, Miss Gaveston. It appears to be a most conspicuous friendship.’
    â€˜What are you doing?’ said Blanche, suddenly, as she perceived her elder sons amusedly regarding the youngest, whose expression of set jauntiness told her that he was nearly in tears. ‘You are teasing him again! I will not have it. It is mean and unmanly to torment your little brother. I am thoroughly ashamed of you both. Justine, I wonder you allow