“You certainly cannot have it, or any portion of it, from me. My expenses are heavy now, and I have my own children coming on.”
His tone was unmistakably decisive, and Mrs. Knox saw that it was so. For many years she had been in the habit of regarding Arnold as something like a bucket in a well, which brings up water every time it is let down. Just so had he brought up money for her from his pocket every time she worried for it. But that was over now: and he had to bear these reproaches periodically.
“You know that you can let me have it, Arnold. You can lend it me from Mina’s money.”
His face flushed slightly, he pushed his fair hair back with a gesture of annoyance.
“The last time you spoke of that I begged you never to mention it again,” he said in a low tone. “Why, what do you take me for, mother?”
“Take you for?”
“You must know that I could not touch Mina’s money without becoming a false trustee. Men have been brought to the criminal bar to answer for a less crime than that would be.”
“If Mina married, you would have to hand over the whole of it.”
“Of course I should. First of all taking care that it was settled upon her.”
“I don’t see the necessity of that. Mina could let me have what she pleased of it.”