He did not return till the evening of the following day. It was presumed that he had gone after a job.
When he reached home his mother and Alice were at tea. He walked to the kitchen fireplace, turned his back to it, and gazed with a peculiar expression at the two who sat at table.
Dicks got work, observed Alice, after a glance at him. I can see that in his face..
Have you, Dick? asked Mrs. Mutimer.
I have. Work likely to last.
So well hope, commented his mother. Where is it?
A good way out of London. Pour me a cup, mother. Wheres Arry?
Gone out, as usual.
And why are you having tea with your hat on, Princess?
Because Im in a hurry, if you must know everything.
Richard did not seek further information. He drank his tea standing. In five minutes Alice had bustled away for an evening with friends. Mrs. Mutimer cleared the table without speaking.
Now get your sewing, mother, and sit down, began Richard. I want to have a talk with you.
The mother cast a rather suspicious glance. There was an impressiveness in the young mans look and tone which disposed her to obey without remark.
How long is it, Richard asked, when attention waited upon him, since you heard anything of fathers uncle, my namesake?
Mrs. Mutimers face exhibited the dawning of intelligence, an unwrinkling here and there, a slight rounding of the lips.
Why, what of him? she asked in an undertone, leaving a needle unthreaded.
The old mans just dead.
Agitation seized the listener, agitation of a kind most unusual in her. Her hands trembled, her eyes grew wide.
You havent heard anything of him lately? pursued Richard.
Heard? Not I. No more did your father ever since two years afore we was married. Id always thought he was dead long ago. What of him, Dick?
From what Im told I thought youd perhaps been keeping things to yourself. Twouldnt have been unlike you, mother. He knew all about us, so the lawyer tells me.
The lawyer?
Well, Id better out with it. Hes died without a will. His real propertythat means his houses and landbelongs to me; his personal propertythats his moneyll have to be divided between me, and Alice, and Arry. Youre out of the sharing, mother.
He said it jokingly, but Mrs. Mutimer did not join in his laugh. Her palms were closely pressed together; still trembling, she gazed straight before her, with a far-off look.
His houseshis land? she murmured, as if she had not quite heard. What did he want with more than one house?
The absurd question was all that could find utterance. She seemed to be reflecting on that point.
Would you like to hear what it all comes to? Richard resumed. His voice was unnatural, forcibly suppressed, quivering at pauses. His eyes gleamed, and there was a centre of warm colour on each of his cheeks. He had taken a note-book from his pocket, and the leaves rustled under his tremulous fingers.
The lawyer, a man called Yottle, just gave me an idea of the different investments and so on. The real property consists of a couple of houses in Belwick, both let, and an estate at a place called Wanley. The old man had begun mining there; theres iron. Ive got my ideas about that. I didnt go into the house; people are there still. Now the income.
He read his notes: So much in railways, so much averaged yearly from iron-works in Belwick, so much in foreign securities, so much disposable at home. Total
Stop, Dick, stop! uttered his mother, under her breath. Them figures frighten me; I dont know what they mean. Its a mistake; theyre leading you astray. Now, mind what I saytheres a mistake! No man with all that money ud die without a will. You wont get me to believe it, Dick.
Richard laughed excitedly. Believe it or not, mother; Ive got my ears and eyes, I hope. And theres a particular reason why he left no will. There was one, but somethingI dont know whathappened just before his death, and he was going to make a new one. The will was burnt. He died in church on a Sunday morning; if hed lived another day, hed have made a new will. Its no more a mistake than the Baptist Chapel is in the square! A comparison which hardly conveyed all Richards meaning; but he was speaking in agitation, more and more quickly, at last almost angrily.
Mrs. Mutimer raised her hand. Be quiet a bit, Dick. Its took me too sudden. I feel queer like.
There was silence. The mother rose as if with difficulty, and drew water in a tea-cup from the filter. When she resumed her place, her hands prepared to resume sewing. She looked up, solemnly, sternly.
Dick, its bad, bad news! Im an old woman, and I must say what I think. It upsets me; it frightens me. I thought he might a left you a hundred pounds.
Mother, dont talk about it till youve had time to think, said Richard, stubbornly. If this is bad news, what the deuce would you call good? Just because Ive been born and bred a mechanic, does that say Ive got no common sense or self-respect? Are you afraid I shall go and drink myself to death? You talk like the people who make it their business to sneer at usthe improvidence of the working classes, and such dd slander. Its good news for me, and itll be good news for many another man. Wait and see.
The mother became silent, keeping her lips tight, and struggling to regain her calmness. She was not convinced, but in argument with her eldest son she always gave way, affection and the pride she had in him aiding her instincts of discretion. In practice she still maintained something of maternal authority, often gaining her point by merely seeming offended. To the two who had not yet reached the year of emancipation she allowed, in essentials, no appeal from her decision. Between her and Richard there had been many a sharp conflict in former days, invariably ending with the lads submission; the respect which his mother exacted he in truth felt to be her due, and it was now long since they had openly been at issue on any point. Mrs. Mutimers views were distinctly Conservative, and hitherto she had never taken Richards Radicalism seriously; on the whole she had regarded it as a fairly harmless recreation for his leisure hoursdecidedly preferable to a haunting of public-houses and music-halls. The loss of his employment caused her a good deal of uneasiness, but she had not ventured to do more than throw out hints of her disapproval; and now, as it seemed, the matter was of no moment. Henceforth she had far other apprehensions, but this first conflict of their views made her reticent.
Just let me tell you how things stand, Richard pursued, when his excitement had somewhat subsided; and he went on to explain the relations between old Mr. Mutimer and the Eldons, which in outline had been described to him by Mr. Yottle. And then
The will he had made left all the property to this young Eldon, who was to be trustee for a little money to be doled out to me yearly, just to save me from ruining myself, of course. Richards lips curled in scorn. I dont know whether the lawyer thought we ought to offer to give everything up; he seemed precious anxious to make me understand that the old man had never intended us to have it, and that he did want these other people to have it. Of course, weve nothing to do with that. Lucks luck, and I think I know wholl make best use of it.
Why didnt you tell all this when Alice was here? inquired his mother, seeming herself again, though very grave.