“Something depends upon one’s point of view,” Jasper replied, and turned to Agatha. “What do you think about it?”
“When Kit was engaged his employers knew all that weighed against him.”
“If they found out he was your nephew, they perhaps hoped they might use him,” said Mrs. Carson.
Agatha looked up, but she saw Evelyn’s eyes sparkle and she waited.
“Then they were very foolish; Kit would not take a bribe to be shabby,” Evelyn declared, and Jasper gave her an indulgent smile.
“On the whole, I agree. There’s another thing; Canadians are not fools, and if they studied Kit for a very short time, they’d be satisfied he had not much talent for intrigue. Well, I think we’ll let it go.”
Mrs. Carson beckoned her husband, and Mrs. Haigh and Jasper went with them to the card-table, but Agatha stopped in the corner by the fireplace. She had studied the others and now she pondered.
Mrs. Carson was frankly spiteful; she, no doubt, felt Kit had humiliated his relations and ought to be punished. Alan was Kit’s friend, but he dared not oppose his wife, and Agatha thought Jasper’s remark about the Carsons’ independence carried a sneer. Since Evelyn was not plucky, her championing Kit was curious; Agatha wondered whether she had reckoned on her mother’s support. Yet, as a rule, Mrs. Haigh played up to Mrs. Carson. Moreover, she was something of an adventuress and Kit was poor and, so to speak, in disgrace. Agatha admitted she did not see much light.
Ledward had said nothing, but the ground was awkward, and his habit was to be tactful. Although Agatha thought Evelyn attracted him, Ledward was not the man to marry a poor wife. Agatha did not see him carried away by romantic passion. Harry was clever and had made his mark at Oxford, but, although he was not rich, he was apparently satisfied to do nothing. Now he talked to Evelyn and Evelyn smiled.
Jasper excited Agatha’s curiosity. She imagined he had studied the group with a sort of ironical humor, and when he talked about Kit she got a hint of antagonism. She thought it strange, because the old fellow was rather inscrutable; and if he were antagonistic, she fancied he would not be willing for the others to know. Well, there was not much use in speculating, and she joined Evelyn.