PART THREE

DECEMBER 24TH

“Do you really want me to stay on here, Father?” asked Harry¹. He tilted² his head back. “I’mstirring up rather a hornet’s nest, you know.”

“What do you mean?” asked Simeon sharply.

“Brother Alfred,” said Harry. “Good brother Alfred! He, if I may say so, resents my presencehere.”

“The devil he does!” snapped Simeon. “I’m master in this house.”

“All the same, sir, I expect you’re pretty dependent on Alfred. I don’t want to upset—”

“You’ll do as I tell you,” snapped his father.

Harry yawned.

“Don’t know that I shall be able to stick a stay-at-home life. Pretty stifling³ to a fellow who’sknocked about the world.”

His father said: “You’d better marry and settle down.”

Harry said: “Who shall I marry? Pity one can’t marry one’s niece. Young Pilar is devilishattractive.”

“You’ve noticed that?”

“Talking of settling down, fat George has done well for himself as far as looks go. Who wasshe?”

Simeon shrugged⁴ his shoulders.

“How should I know? George picked her up at a mannequin parade, I believe. She says herfather was a retired⁵ naval⁶ officer.”

Harry said:

“Probably a second mate of a coasting steamer. George will have a bit of trouble with her ifhe’s not careful.”

“George,” said Simeon Lee, “is a fool.”

Harry said: “What did she marry him for—his money?”

Simeon shrugged his shoulders.

Harry said: “Well, you think that you can square Alfred all right?”

“We’ll soon settle that,” said Simeon grimly.

He touched a bell that stood on a table near him.

Horbury appeared promptly⁷. Simeon said:

“Ask Mr. Alfred to come here.”

Horbury went out and Harry drawled:

“That fellow listens at doors!”

Simeon shrugged his shoulders.

“Probably.”

Alfred hurried in. His face twitched⁸ when he saw his brother. Ignoring Harry, he saidpointedly:

“You wanted me, Father?”

“Yes, sit down. I was just thinking we must reorganize things a bit now that we have twomore people living in the house.”

“Two?”

“Pilar will make her home here, naturally. And Harry is home for good.”

Alfred said: “Harry is coming to live here?”

“Why not, old boy?” said Harry.

Alfred turned sharply to him.

“I should think that you yourself would see that!”

“Well, sorry—but I don’t.”

“After everything that has happened? The disgraceful way you behaved. The scandal—”

Harry waved an easy hand.

“All that’s in the past, old boy.”

“You behaved abominably⁹ to Father, after all he’s done for you.”

“Look here, Alfred, it strikes me that’s Father’s business, not yours. If he’s willing to forgiveand forget—”

“I’m willing,” said Simeon. “Harry’s my son, after all, you know, Alfred.”

“Yes, but—I resent it—for Father’s sake.”

Simeon said: “Harry’s coming here! I wish it.” He laid a hand gently on the latter’s shoulder.

“I’m very fond of Harry.”

Alfred got up and left the room. His face was white. Harry rose too and went after him,laughing.

Simeon sat chuckling¹⁰ to himself. Then he started and looked round. “Who the devil’s that?

Oh, it’s you, Horbury. Don’t creep about that way.”

“I beg your pardon, sir.”

“Never mind. Listen, I’ve got some orders for you. I want everybody to come up here afterlunch—everybody.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There’s something else. When they come, you come with them. And when you get halfwayalong the passage raise your voice so that I can hear. Any pretext¹¹ will do. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Horbury went downstairs. He said to Tressilian:

“If you ask me, we are going to have a Merry Christmas.”

Tressilian said sharply: “What d’you mean?”

“You wait and see, Mr. Tressilian. It’s Christmas Eve today, and a nice Christmas spiritabroad—I don’t think!”

 

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