The Black Moon Read Free Page B

not agree.'
    'You pay too much attention to Cary. What was your business with him last week?'
    'Routine affairs. But I believe you draw too fine a line, Father, between r espect and fear. One merges with the other and back again, You cannot separate two emotions of such similar colour.'
    'Probity in business induces the first.'
    'And improbity the second? Oh, come-'
    'Not improbity, perhaps, but the misuse of power. In a moment you will be telling me I read you a lect ure. But Cary and I have never seen eye to eye on this. I ask you, whose name do you wish your son to bear?'
    'Yours and mine,' said George' evenly. 'That is the one he will bear. And where I have walked on your shou lders, he shall walk on mine.'
    Nicholas went back to the fire and replaced the smoking log where the smoke could go up the chimney.
    `That's better, my son,' said Agatha, waking from, a doze. `You don't want the fire, flashed all about the hearth.'
    `God alive, I believe that old woman's stench has drifted o ver here!' In irritation George went over, and pulled the tasselled bell. Mr Wa rleggan continued to cough. The smoke, although now dispersing, had settled on his chest and he, could not clear it. Without speaking they waited until the servant came.
    `Fetch the Harry brothers,' George said.
    `Yes, sir.'
    ' Take a glass of canary,' George said to his father.
    `Thank you, no. It's of no moment
    He spat in the hearth.
    'Comfrey and liquorice;' said Aunt Agatha. 'I had a sister died of the lungs, a nd naught would soothe her but comfrey and liquorice.'
    Presently Harry Harry hulked in the doorway, followed by h is younger brother Tom. `Sur?'
    George said: 'Remove Miss Poldark to her room. When you are there ring for Miss Pipe and tell her that Miss Poldark is not to come down again today.'
    The two big men brought up a smaller chair an d lifted Aunt Agatha protesting into it. Clutching the mew ing kitten to her breast, she croaked: 'There be one thing amiss with your little son, George. Good seldo m comes to a child born under a black moon. I only know two and they both came to bad ends!'
    Nicholas Warleggan's face was purple. His son went across to the table, poured wine into a glass and brought it impatiently back.
    'No it is the…..Oh well, a sip will help perhaps. '
    `Elizabeth'll hear 'bout th is.' said Aunt Agatha. `Carried out of me own ha ll like a spar o' driftwood ... Ninety year I known this hall. Ninet y year'. ' Her frail complaints disappeared behind Tom Harry's b road back as she was carried up the stairs.
    `We should have had Elizabeth at Cardew for the lying in,' said Mr Warleggan between coughs and sips, `then we should have been spared these irritations.'
    `I think it not inappropriate that our first child should have been born here.'
    `But shall you stay? I mean to make it your home?'
    A Wary look crossed George's face. I am not sure. We have not yet decided. This has been Elizabeth's home, you understand. I do not fancy selling it, Nor do I fancy maintaining it solely for the convenience of the Chynoweths and the residue of the Poldarks. And. I have already, spent money as you can see.'
    `Indeed.' Nicholas wiped his eyes and put away his hand kerchief. He eyed his son. `There is one other Poldark to be considered, George.'
    'Geoffrey Charles? Yes. I have nothing against him. I have promised to Elizabeth that his education shall be as expensive as she desires.'
    `It is not just that. It is the fact of his being so, firmly attached to his mother's apron strings. I hope your son – this new baby-will, distract Elizabeth from her preoccupation with him, but it would seem necessary-'
    `I know exactly what would seem necessary, Father. Give me leave to manage my own household.'
    `I'm sorry, I had thought simply to suggest ..’
    George frowned down at a stain on his cuff. The matter of Geoffrey Charles's future had been one of the few points of difference with Elizabeth these last months.
    `Geoffrey Charles is to have, a gover