"You wouldn't think it to watch her and listen to her. Now, once and for all" and he tried to pass his mother and go into the garden.
There was no escape. Mrs. Chichester held him firmly:
"She will have five thousand pounds a year when she is twenty-one!"
She looked the alarmed youth straight in the eyes. She was fighting for her own. She could not bear to think of parting with this home where she had lived so happily with her husband, and where her two children were born and reared. Even though Peg was not of the same caste, much could be done with her. Once accept her into the family and the rest would be easy.
As she looked piercingly into Alaric's eyes, he caught the full significance of the suggestion. His lips pursed to whistle—but no sound came through them. He muttered hoarsely, as though he were signing away his right to happiness.
"Five thousand pounds a year! Five thousand of the very best!" Mrs. Chichester took the slowly articulated words in token of acceptance. He would do it! She knew he would! Always ready to rise to a point of honour and to face a duty or confront a danger, he was indeed her son.
She took him in her arms and pressed his reluctant and shrinking body to her breast.
"Oh, my boy!" she wailed joyfully. "My dear, dear boy!"
Alaric disengaged himself alertly.
"Here, half a minute, mater. Half a minute, please: One can't burn all one's boats like that, without a cry for help."