mr. george booth. [taken aback and fumbling for his watch.] I think so . . I make it fourteen minutes to one. [he seizes the occasion.] Trenchard, as a very old and dear friend of your father's, you won't mind me saying how glad I was that you were present to-day. Death closes all. Indeed . . it must be a great regret to you that you did not see him before . . before . .
trenchard. [his cold eye freezing this little gush.] I don't think he asked for me.
mr. george booth. [stoppered.] No? No! Well . . well. . .
At this third attempt to depart he actually collides with someone in the doorway. It is hugh voysey.
mr. george booth. My dear Hugh . . I won't intrude.
Quite determined to escape he grasps his hand, gasps out his formula and is off. trenchard and hugh, eldest and youngest son, are as unlike each other as it is possible for voyseys to be, but that isn't very unlike. trenchard has in excelsis the cocksure manner of the successful barrister; hugh the rather sweet though querulous air of diffidence and scepticism belonging to the unsuccessful man of letters or artist. The self-respect of trenchard's appearance is immense, and he cultivates that air of concentration upon any trivial matter, or even upon nothing at all, which will some day make him an impressive figure upon the Bench. hugh is always vague, searching Heaven or the corners of the room for inspiration, and even on this occasion his tie is abominably crooked. The inspissated gloom of this assembly, to which each member of the family as he arrives adds his share, is unbelievable. Instinct apparently leads them to reproduce as nearly as possible the appearance and conduct of the corpse on which their minds are fixed. hugh is depressed partly at the inadequacy of his grief; trenchard conscientiously preserves an air of the indifference which he feels; booth stands statuesque at the mantelpiece; while emily is by mrs. voysey, whose face in its quiet grief is nevertheless a mirror of many happy memories of her husband.
booth. I wouldn't hang over her, Emily.
emily. No, of course not.