“If all this grossly exaggerated talk refers to Gregory's death I can only say that I never listened to such nonsense in my life!” declared Mrs Lupton.
Randall lifted one long, slender finger. “Hush, aunt! Aunt Zoë is remembering that she is a widow.”
“Damn you!” muttered Stella, just behind him.
“Yes, Randall, I am remembering it,” said Mrs Matthews. “Now that Gregory has passed on I realise that I am indeed alone in the world.”
Randall made a gesture towards his scowling cousins. “Ah, but, aunt, you forget your two inestimable Blessings!” He glanced down into Stella's wrathful eyes, and said softly: “That will teach you to say damn you to me, my sweet, won't it?”
Under cover of Mrs Lupton's and Miss Matthews' voices, both uplifted in indignant speech, Stella said: “You're a rotten cad!”
He laughed. “Temper, Stella, temper!”
“I wish to God you'd get out, and stay out!”
“Think how dull you'd be without me,” he said, turning away. “Dear, dear, surely my beloved aunts are not quarrelling?”
The dispute ended abruptly. “Do you mean to stay to tea, Randall?” snapped Miss Matthews.