“Ah, how do you do?” said Randall, shaking hands with Edward Rumbold. “I'm quite delighted to see you. I was afraid I should find unadulterated family. Do not trouble to ring the bell, dear Aunt Harriet: Beecher knows I am here.”
“I wasn't going to!” said Miss Matthews, quivering with annoyance. “I'm sure I don't know why you've elected to come here. I noticed that you didn't trouble yourself to come to the Inquest.”
“No, I thought it would be much kinder to let you tell me all about it,” said Randall, drawing up a chair, and carefully hitching up his trousers before sitting down in it.
“I don't want to discuss it in any way, least of all with you!” snapped Miss Matthews.
“Really?” said Randall incredulously. “And to think I nearly refrained from visiting you today for fear I should find you all talking about the Inquest in that peculiarly reiterative way you have!”
“If you had one spark of decent feeling, Randall, you would have been present at the Inquest!” said Miss Matthews, moving the cups about with a good deal of clatter. “Not that I expected it. I've given up expecting you to behave in anything but a thoroughly selfish manner. Just like your uncle! Though you're not the only person I could mention who thinks of no one but themselves. I name no names, but those whom the cap fits can wear it,” she added darkly.
Mrs Matthews intervened at this point, and said in a grave voice: “Isn't this a little undignified? When one thinks that only a week ago Death visited this house, doesn't it seem to you that we should all of us try to turn our minds away from petty squabbles to something higher and better?”
Guy made an impatient movement, and strode away to the window, and stood with his back to the room, fidgeting with the blind-cord.
“Certainly, my dear aunt!” said Randall, who had listened to her with an air of courteous interest. “Let us by all means try! But you must suggest the subject. No one else is nearly so fit.”
“I think each one of us could think of something if we tried,” said Mrs Matthews gently. “Even you, Randall.”