“As a matter of fact,” stated Mrs Lupton fairly, “I was telling your Aunt Harriet that you ought to be informed when you arrived. Not that I consider you have any cause for complaint. You are not more nearly concerned than Gregory's sisters. Please do not imagine that you need give yourself airs just because you happen now to be the head of the family! There will be time enough for that when we have heard your uncle's Will read. Which reminds me, Harriet, that I must arrange with Mr Carrington when it will be convenient to him to come down here. In the ordinary course of events I suppose he would come immediately after the funeral, but in this case I am of the opinion that the sooner he comes the better.”
“I am glad of that,” said Randall. “He is coming on the day after tomorrow.”
Mrs Lupton eyed him with something approaching loathing. “Do I understand that you took it upon yourself to make this arrangement without a word to anyone?”
“Yes,” said Randall.
At this moment a not unwelcome interruption occurred. Mrs Matthews came into the room. She extended a gloved hand towards Randall, and said: “I saw your car, and so guessed you were here. Janet, too! Quite a little family party, I see. I wonder if you thought to order any fresh cake, Harriet dear? I seem to remember that there was not a great deal yesterday. But I'm sure you did.” She dropped her hand on to her sister-in-law's shoulder for a moment, and pressed it. “Poor Harriet! Such a sad, sad day. And for me too.”
“I understood that you had been shopping in town,” said Mrs Lupton.
Mrs Matthews gave her a look of pained reproach. “I have been buying mourning, Gertrude, if you can call that shopping.”
“I do not know what else one can call it,” retorted Mrs Lupton.
Randall handed Mrs Matthews to a chair. “How tired you must be!” he said. “I find there is nothing so fatiguing as choosing clothes.”
“Oh,” said Mrs Matthews, sinking into the chair, and beginning to draw off her gloves, “it was not so much choosing, as taking anything that was suitable. One doesn't care what one wears at such a time.”