“Well, why the devil didn’t you do something to stop it?” demanded Sherry, pardonably irritated.
“Because I’m too lazy,” replied his uncle, with the utmost frankness. “If you were my size, you’d know better than to ask me a damned stupid question like that. What’s more, I never could abide that fellow Paulett, and if I’m not to go off in an apoplexy there’s only one thing for it, and that’s to keep away from him. Saving your presence, nevvy, I don’t like any of your mother’s relatives, while as for Valeria herself — well, that’s neither here nor there! Why do you have to come pestering me at this hour just because you’ve got yourself tied-up, boy?”
“Because you’ve got to wind up the Trust,” replied Sherry. He produced a document from his pocket and laid it on the table. “There’s my marriage lines, or whatever you call ’em. I’ll write to my mother myself, but it’s you who must deal with the lawyers.”
Prosper sighed, but attempted no remonstrance. “Well, I don’t mind seeing old Ditchling,” he said. “What are you going to do, Sherry? Do you want your mother to retire to the Dower House? She won’t like that.”
“No,” said Sherry, who had already given this matter a little thought. “Country life don’t suit me, and I’d as soon she stayed at Sheringham Place to keep her eye on things as not. Mind you, I’d give something to kick Uncle Horace out, but I suppose it can’t be done. Not without my mother having the vapours, and I don’t want that. But I’m going to hold the purse strings, and although I don’t mind feeding him and housing him, I’m damned if I’ll pay for his little pleasures any longer!”
“Well, it’s not my affair,” said Prosper, “but if I were in your shoes I’d be rid of him.”
“You wouldn’t. You’re too lazy. Besides, I don’t want to put my mother into one of her takings, and that’s what would happen, if I kicked Uncle Horace out, as sure as check! Ten to one she’d come up to town to live, and that wouldn’t suit me at all.”
“No, my God!” agreed Prosper, impressed by this common sense point of view.
“As for the town house, I haven’t made up my mind about that,” continued Sherry. “I’m bound to say it ain’t much in my line, but I’m taking Hero to have a look at it today, and if she wants to live there she shall.”
“She will,” said Prosper cynically. “Trust any woman to jump at the chance of living in a draughty great mansion in the best part of town!”