Mother and Son Read Online Free PDF

our life?” said Francis. “To keep Pettigrew from want?”
    â€œWhat will he do when we are grown-up?” said Adrian.
    â€œI suppose he will suffer the want.”
    â€œAnd his wife and family with him,” said Alice, smiling at the wider possibility.
    â€œShall we ever have to teach, as he does?” said Adrian. “Perhaps Aunt Miranda will be dead, and Uncle will be willing to support us.”
    â€œSo you have death in your heart,” said Francis.
    â€œI should not do anything to make her die. And she has never wanted us to live at all. She is worse than I am.”
    â€œAlice, we must remember that Adrian is our brother. Should not our combined influence do something for him? Is it our fault that it has failed so far?”
    â€œWhat is this?” said Bates, coming in on some quest. “Now, have you been teasing him?”
    â€œI wish Nurse had not gone,” said Adrian. “It was because Aunt Miranda would not pay her.”
    â€œNow that is an ungrateful way to talk. And you know Bates is always here.”
    â€œWhy should we talk gratefully?” said Alice. “Nurse has not stayed.”
    â€œBates, Alice made faces at Pettigrew, and he saw her,” said Adrian.
    â€œWhat nonsense! Of course I did not.”
    â€œIt was the reflection of your face on hers, that gave the illusion,” said Francis.
    â€œNow if I leave you, will you see he does not tease him?” said Bates, feeling no need to be more specific.
    â€œDon’t speak to him, unless I give you permission,” said Alice to Francis, in an incidental tone.
    Adrian relapsed in the manner of a person protected.
    â€œDo we have an empty life?” he said.
    â€œWell, that is fair enough,” said Alice. “We don’t save anyone else’s from emptiness.”
    â€œI think we should save Uncle’s, if it were not for Aunt Miranda.”
    â€œWhy think of the might-have-beens?” said Francis.
    â€œIt is strange that she and Rosebery like each other, when no one else likes either of them.”
    â€œUncle feels they are his wife and son.”
    â€œHe knows it, if he does not feel it,” said Alice.
    â€œHe feels it about Aunt Miranda,” said Adrian. “That is the reason of everything.”
    The tutor met Julius and his son in the hall, and paused with a flush and start.
    â€œGood-evening, Mr. Hume.”
    â€œHow are you, Pettigrew?” said Julius, shaking hands. “I hope my young ones do not trouble you. Remember me to your wife.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Hume, I will certainly do so. And she would wish me to give you a similar message. Good-evening, Mr. Rosebery; it is a chilly night; I hope you have been able to remain indoors.”
    â€œGood-evening, Mr. Pettigrew,” said Rosebery, with a full smile and handshake. “I have been out on a mission of my own, but have otherwise been unoccupied. I fear I should be called a less useful person than you.”
    â€œOh, I do not know. There are many kinds of usefulness.”
    â€œToo many,” said Julius. “It results in a workaday world. Goodbye again. We keep early hours, and my wife is firm about them.”
    â€œGoodbye, Mr. Hume. Mrs. Pettigrew is of a similar mind. Indeed she finds inexactitude about hours more trying than the more serious shortcomings; though the lack of consideration involved should perhaps place it among those.”
    Mr. Pettigrew put on his hat and coat with a consciousness that eyes were on him, and Julius withdrew his own and turned to the dining-room.
    â€œThere are exceptions to human inconsistency. Pettigrew can only be himself.”
    â€œHe was concerned for Miss Burke,” said Francis, “indeed moved by her position.”
    â€œWell, it is really the same as his,” said Alice.
    â€œWe should all have a fellow-feeling for those whoare in it,” said Rosebery. “Think how easily we might be in it