“I don’t know, but if you can believe all this humdudgeon of Ger’s about falling into rabbit-holes, I can’t! Part company he might; leave go of his rein he would not! No wish to meddle in what don’t concern me, but Ger’s a friend of mine. Fancy he’s a friend of yours too. Don’t know what it was, but something happened to him he don’t mean to tell us about. Dash it, I haven’t spent three days here without seeing that that young cub of a brother of his would do him a mischief if he could!”
Theo was frowningly silent. After a moment, the Viscount said: “Quarrelled last night, didn’t they? Oh, you needn’t be so discreet! I walked into the middle of it! Got a shrewd notion I know what it was about, too.”
“They did quarrel, but I believe it was not serious. Martin is hot-tempered, and will often say what he does not mean.”
“What’s the matter with the fellow?” demanded the Viscount. “Seems to live in the sulks!”
Theo smiled faintly. “He has certainly done so ever since St. Erth came home, but he can be pleasant enough when he likes.”
“Pity he doesn’t like more often! Does he dislike Ger?”
“He is jealous of him. I think you must have realized that. St. Erth has inherited what Martin has always regarded as his own. I hope he may soon perceive the folly of his behavior. Indeed, I believe he must, for there is not a better fellow living than Gervase, and that Martin will be bound to discover before he is much older.”
“But this is Gothick, Frant, quite Gothick!” objected Ulverston.
“Well, in some ways I think Martin is rather Gothick!” said Theo. “His disposition is imperious; his will never was thwarted while his father lived; nor was he taught to control his passions. Everything that he wanted he was given; and, worse than all, he was treated as though he had been the heir, and Gervase did not exist.”
“Went to school, didn’t he?”