‘Never was such a will on this earth! It ought to be brought into court! I verily believe the old hag studied to make it a parting emanation of malice!’
‘Oh, hush! hush!’ cried Violet, shocked.
‘It is all very well saying Hush, hush; but I should like to know what you mean to live upon?’
‘What has she done?’
‘She has gone and left it all to that child!’
‘What child?’
‘My son—your boy John, I tell you; but, mark you, so as to do no good to a living soul. Not a penny is he to touch till we are all dead, if we starve meantime. She has tied it up to accumulate till my eldest son—or John’s, if he has one—comes to the title, and much good may it do him!’
‘Poor little dear!’ said Violet, inexpressibly pained by his tone.
‘Anything but poor! It is £100,000 to begin with, and what will it be when he gets it? Think of that doing nothing, and of us with no dependence but the trumpery £5000 by the marriage settlements. It is enough to drive one crazy.’
‘It is a pity,’ said Violet, frightened by his vehemence.