The sick man laughed. Matilda continued to gaze strangely at the young man.
“She knows I didn’t,” said Hadrian.
He too had his courage, as a rat has indomitable courage in the end. Hadrian had some of the neatness, the reserve, the underground quality of the rat. But he had perhaps the ultimate courage, the most unquenchable courage of all.
Emmie looked at her sister.
“Oh, well,” she said. “Matilda—don’t bother. Let him have everything, we can look after ourselves.”
“I know he’ll take everything,” said Matilda, abstractedly.
Hadrian did not answer. He knew in fact that if Matilda refused him he would take everything, and go off with it.
“A clever little mannie—!” said Emmie, with a jeering grimace.
The father laughed noiselessly to himself. But he was tired....
“Go on, then,” he said. “Go on, let me be quiet.”