A Family and a Fortune Read Free Page A

‘But I daresay the work has its own unexpected rewards.’
    â€˜I forget what I learned at Eton,’ said his uncle.
    â€˜Yes, so do I; yes, so to a great extent do I,’ said Edgar. ‘Yes, I believe I forgot the greater part of it.’
    â€˜You can’t really have lost it, Father,’ said Justine. ‘An education in the greatest school in the world must have left its trace. It must have contributed to your forming.’
    â€˜It does not seem to matter that I can’t go to school,’ said Aubrey. ‘It will be a shorter cut to the same end.’
    â€˜Now, little boy, don’t take that obvious line. And remember that self-education is the greatest school of all.’
    â€˜And education by Penrose? What is that?’
    â€˜Say Mr Penrose. And get on with your breakfast,’
    â€˜He has only had one piece of toast,’ said Blanche, in a tone which suggested that it would be one of despair if the situation were not familiar. ‘And he is a growing boy.’
    â€˜I should not describe him in those terms,’ said Mark.
    â€˜I should be at a loss to describe him,’ said Clement.
    â€˜Don’t be silly,’ said their mother at once. ‘You are both of you just as difficult to describe.’
    â€˜Some people defy description,’ said Aubrey. ‘Uncle and I are among them.’
    â€˜There is something in it,’ said Justine, looking round.
    â€˜Perhaps we should not – it may be as well not to discuss people who are present,’ said Edgar.
    â€˜Right as usual, Father. I wish the boys would emulate you.’
    â€˜Oh, I think they do, dear,’ said Blanche, in an automatic tone. ‘I see a great likeness in them both to their father. It gets more striking.’
    â€˜And does no one think poor Uncle a worthy object of emulation? He is as experienced and polished a person as Father.’
    Edgar looked up at this swift disregard of accepted advice.
    â€˜I am a changeling,’ said Dudley. ‘Aubrey and I are very hard to get hold of.’
    â€˜And you can’t send a person you can’t put your finger on to school,’ said his nephew.
    â€˜You can see that he does the next best thing,’ said Justine. ‘Off with you at once. There is Mr Penrose on the steps. Don’t keep the poor little man waiting.’
    â€˜Justine refers to every other person as poor,’ said Clement.
    â€˜Well, I am not quite without the bowels of human compassion. The ups and downs of the world do strike me, I confess.’
    â€˜Chiefly the downs.’
    â€˜Well, there are more of them.’
    â€˜Poor little man,’ murmured Aubrey, leaving his seat. ‘Whose little man is he? I am Justine’s little boy.’
    â€˜It seems - is it not rather soon after breakfast to work?’ said Edgar.
    â€˜They go for a walk first, as you know, Father. It is good for Aubrey to have a little adult conversation apart from his family. I asked Mr Penrose to make the talk educational.
    â€˜Did you, dear?’ said Blanche, contracting her eyes. ‘I think you should leave that kind of thing to Father or me.’
    â€˜Indeed I should not, Mother. And not have it done at all? That would be a nice alternative. I should do all I can for you all, as it comes into my head, as I always have and always shall. Don’t try to prevent what is useful and right.’
    Blanche subsided under this reasonable direction.
    â€˜Now off with you both! Off to your occupations,’ said Justine, waving her hand towards her brothers. ‘I hope you have some. I have, and they will not wait.’
    â€˜I am glad I have none,’ said Dudley. ‘I could not bear to have regular employment.’
    â€˜Do you know what I have discovered?’ said his niece. ‘I have discovered a likeness between our little boy and you, Uncle. A real, incontrovertible and bona fide likeness. It is no good for