Read Online So Bad a Death by June Wright - Free Book Online Page B

Never thought the old man would let it go out of the family, even after Jim’s smash.”
    â€œWhat happened exactly?” I asked, tilting back my chair to reach the cigarettes on John’s desk. I offered them to my visitor. “Not for me, thanks. I have a pipe if you don’t mind the stink. Jim? No one seems to know. Took his plane up one fine day and it fell to bits, Jimwith it. The old man was rather cut up.” He drew on his pipe and said between puffs: “Tried his hardest to blame someone other than Jim. Apple of his eye, Jim was.”
    â€œAren’t all sons?” I said, rather sentimentally.
    â€œNot like a Holland. You’d think they were the chosen people, the stuff that is spouted about ancestors and continuing the line. Suppose I shouldn’t say that, the wife being one before I married her. But they do get your goat occasionally.”
    I could not think of any suitable comment to make so I let him ramble on. He was obviously finding relief in blowing off steam after breathing in the refined air of the Hall.
    â€œBorn and bred in the country, I was. The land is the only place for me. Can’t stand this polite roguery that goes under the name of business. The old man would sell us all to make a shilling, and then turn round and gas about upholding the prestige of the family. What family, I ask you. He’ll pop off sooner or later and Jim has already gone. There’s only that snivelling brat of Yvonne’s left, and he won’t make the grade, I bet.”
    I started a little and my cigarette fell from my fingers. I bent to pick it up.
    â€œIsn’t Mrs Holland’s son a strong child?”
    â€œI dunno. Seems to me he’s always bawling. I don’t think they give the kid enough to eat. All these fancy ideas about vitamins. Lot of rot. Mind you, it’s only just lately that he’s got like that. He used to be a bonny little nipper.”
    â€œPerhaps Mrs Holland should take him to a doctor,” I suggested, watching him closely.
    â€œJames doesn’t believe in coddling the kid. There’s some old witch in the house who used to be Jim’s nurse. He swears by her.”
    â€œWhat does Yvonne say?”
    Ernest Mulqueen knocked out his foul-smelling dottle.
    â€œNothing. It’s what the old man says that goes. Maybe you’ll find that out yourself one day.”
    He added with a trace of bitterness: “You can’t fight him. He always wins. Look at me! I used to run my own place up the Riverina way. When I married the wife what happens? She develops a heartor something and must be near dear James. Ursie must be brought up right. My farm can be run along with the rest of his property. To cut a long story short, he collars my land, puts me down here at a miserable screw and gathers in the profits.”
    â€œWhy don’t you go back?”
    My practical suggestion startled him. He muttered something about not leaving Ursie in the old man’s clutches.
    â€œAnyway, the wife wouldn’t go now. You must have a woman on the farm. It never did suit her. Can’t think sometimes why she married me. Taken by and large, I’m fairly content. Nothing to worry about and regular money coming in.”
    â€œBut Ursula,” I insisted. “Wouldn’t she go back with you?”
    â€œThe wife has ideas for Ursie,” he declared bluntly. “Anyway, it’s too late. It’s all one property now. The old man made it a legal arrangement. Got in old Braithwaite and I signed on the dotted line. Fool that I was!”
    Mulqueen got up from his chair slowly, due more to reluctance to go into the cold air than physical tardiness. His actions and movements were always brisk.
    â€œWell, I must toddle along. What time will hubby be home, Mrs Matheson?”
    â€œI expect him any moment. Thank you for keeping me company. You saved me from becoming a gibbering idiot.”
    I led the way down the