But it hadn't made any difference. She opened the ledger and got down to the therapy of figures.Ii
William Filmore stood with his back to the empty grate. It was a position he took up when the fire was blazing, and it usually blazed during all the winter, spring, and autumn months. So it was a matter of habit, his standing in this position, especially whilst enjoying his after-dinner cigar.Opposite him, in a deep leather chair, sat his elder son. Lionel was well aware of his assets: he was tall, had an abundance of thick fair hair and a countenance that could only be classed as handsome, whereas his brother, Douglas, a year younger, was short in comparison, being only five-foot-six inches tall, with no manly figure to speak of, being what you would kindly call wiry. Also in contrast to Lionel, he was dark haired. His eyes, too, were dark, deep brown almost
87black. His face was longish, his chin inclined to jut. His mouth was wide and thin lipped, his disposition, too, was in contrast to his brother's in that he was of a quiet retiring nature and had what the family considered to be strange pursuits, diverse in their choice: he liked chipping stone or whittling wood; and he had a feeling for pigs. Whenever he was not working in one of the big outhouses he had claimed as a workshop, he could be found on the farm looking at the pigs, assessing them, even talking to them, it was said.Both men were looking at their father now as he said, 'We've got to put on a show, it's important. And you should know that.' He nodded towards Lionel; and Lionel came back with, 'You needn't stress the point, Father. I know it is important, and not only to me.''What do you mean by that?'
The protruding stomach seemed to expand, the red jowls bristled, and William Filmore, with a backWard flick of his hand, knocked the ash off his cigar; then, his arm going forward, the cigar, now glowing between his fingers, was thrust in the direction of his son, and he said, This'-the cigar now made a half circle-'this will be yours before long. What do you intend to do with it? Sell it? Well, I can tell you, if it went on the market it wouldn't cover half the debts. And then there's your way of life. You couldn't live without the hunt, could you? And empty stables out there would be unbearable to you.' The cigar now was pointing towards the long latticed windows at the end of the room; then when it was brought back towards his chest, he said, 'And there is your tailor, and your drink, not forgetting what you lose at cards, because you're the most unlucky bugger on God's earth with a pack of cards in your hand. So-' The cigar was now thrust back between the blue lips, its essence to be savoured for a moment; then, his voice dropping a tone, he said, It's a ball we've come to discuss, and at it I hope you'll settle your future. There's no more playing around for you, for slip up here and I'd advise you to take a boat to America and see what you can do with your charm there.''You'll need more staff.'Both the father and brother looked at Douglas. It was as if they had never before 89heard him speak. And his father's voice was quiet as he said, 'Yes, Doug, you're right, we'll need more staff. So, have you any ideas on the subject?''Not really; only I was nineteen when we last had a ball here. That's six years ago, and we had eleven indoors then and eight out.' He looked from one to the other before he ended, 'But things have changed.''That's an obvious statement if ever I heard one.' Lionel looked scathingly at his brother; then he added, 'And it can't go down in the annals that you've done much to stop the rot.'There came a slight tightening of Douglas's jaw, and the chin moved out a bit further, but his voice was level as he said, 'Well, you could say I've been serving my apprenticeship. I sold two pieces last week.''You what!' It was a joint exclamation, and surprise had caused the father to lay down his cigar on a silver stand that was to his hand on the
William Filmore stood with his back to the empty grate. It was a position he took up when the fire was blazing, and it usually blazed during all the winter, spring, and autumn months. So it was a matter of habit, his standing in this position, especially whilst enjoying his after-dinner cigar.Opposite him, in a deep leather chair, sat his elder son. Lionel was well aware of his assets: he was tall, had an abundance of thick fair hair and a countenance that could only be classed as handsome, whereas his brother, Douglas, a year younger, was short in comparison, being only five-foot-six inches tall, with no manly figure to speak of, being what you would kindly call wiry. Also in contrast to Lionel, he was dark haired. His eyes, too, were dark, deep brown almost
87black. His face was longish, his chin inclined to jut. His mouth was wide and thin lipped, his disposition, too, was in contrast to his brother's in that he was of a quiet retiring nature and had what the family considered to be strange pursuits, diverse in their choice: he liked chipping stone or whittling wood; and he had a feeling for pigs. Whenever he was not working in one of the big outhouses he had claimed as a workshop, he could be found on the farm looking at the pigs, assessing them, even talking to them, it was said.Both men were looking at their father now as he said, 'We've got to put on a show, it's important. And you should know that.' He nodded towards Lionel; and Lionel came back with, 'You needn't stress the point, Father. I know it is important, and not only to me.''What do you mean by that?'
The protruding stomach seemed to expand, the red jowls bristled, and William Filmore, with a backWard flick of his hand, knocked the ash off his cigar; then, his arm going forward, the cigar, now glowing between his fingers, was thrust in the direction of his son, and he said, This'-the cigar now made a half circle-'this will be yours before long. What do you intend to do with it? Sell it? Well, I can tell you, if it went on the market it wouldn't cover half the debts. And then there's your way of life. You couldn't live without the hunt, could you? And empty stables out there would be unbearable to you.' The cigar now was pointing towards the long latticed windows at the end of the room; then when it was brought back towards his chest, he said, 'And there is your tailor, and your drink, not forgetting what you lose at cards, because you're the most unlucky bugger on God's earth with a pack of cards in your hand. So-' The cigar was now thrust back between the blue lips, its essence to be savoured for a moment; then, his voice dropping a tone, he said, It's a ball we've come to discuss, and at it I hope you'll settle your future. There's no more playing around for you, for slip up here and I'd advise you to take a boat to America and see what you can do with your charm there.''You'll need more staff.'Both the father and brother looked at Douglas. It was as if they had never before 89heard him speak. And his father's voice was quiet as he said, 'Yes, Doug, you're right, we'll need more staff. So, have you any ideas on the subject?''Not really; only I was nineteen when we last had a ball here. That's six years ago, and we had eleven indoors then and eight out.' He looked from one to the other before he ended, 'But things have changed.''That's an obvious statement if ever I heard one.' Lionel looked scathingly at his brother; then he added, 'And it can't go down in the annals that you've done much to stop the rot.'There came a slight tightening of Douglas's jaw, and the chin moved out a bit further, but his voice was level as he said, 'Well, you could say I've been serving my apprenticeship. I sold two pieces last week.''You what!' It was a joint exclamation, and surprise had caused the father to lay down his cigar on a silver stand that was to his hand on the
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