Free A Heritage and its History by Ivy Compton-Burnett

people who say less, think less also.”
    â€œBut that is not true of you,” said Julia.
    â€œI must try to make it so, ma’am. Mr. Hamish’s place is filled,” said Deakin, turning to the door.
    â€œNow I see no reason for keeping back the tears,” said Walter. “Cry, Mater; it will do you good.”
    â€œI suppose it is to be a formal marriage,” saidSimon. “My uncle implied there would be no issue. And there are to be two rooms. I think we can be sure of our ground there.”
    â€œWe cannot be sure of anything,” said his mother. “An hour ago we should have been sure of different things.”
    â€œWhen my uncle dies, it will be Rhoda who meets the change. She has her place only for his life. The house will be mine, and you its mistress until I marry. Then you will share it with my family and me. We shall be more dependent on your income, with the demand for Rhoda’s widowhood.”
    â€œSimon can only conceive of Rhoda as a widow,” said Walter. “She is not to begin as one.”
    â€œWell, where I am, my sons will be,” said Julia. “I must be grateful for that.”
    â€œI do not envy Rhoda her homecoming,” said Simon. “And her meeting with us after these secret dealings.”
    â€œShe will have support,” said his mother. “And it is not all she will have.”
    â€œI should have thought she would give up more. Her own life and her home and her sister. Though of course they will be waiting for her, when she returns.”
    â€œAt your uncle’s death,” said Julia. “Is it never to be out of your thought? It is their life together that concerns them, not hers or ours when it is past.”
    â€œShe has an income of her own. I don’t know how she will use it. She may help Fanny with her house. We cannot say how things will be.”
    â€œThey are not your concern, and must not appear to be.”
    â€œWe shall live our days over a morass of apprehension and suspense. I wonder how we shall manage in them.”
    â€œWe shall only have to live them,” said his mother.
    â€œI wonder that Fanny has not come to see us and discuss it.”
    â€œSurely you do not. It would not be permitted. And we see the reasons.”
    â€œMy uncle has gone too far in subordinating everything to himself. I shall think so to the end.”
    â€œHe has had the opportunity,” said Walter. “I expect people always use it. Think how you are looking forward to using yours.”
    â€œWhen I am dead,” said Sir Edwin, as he returned. “And in the meantime I am to live. He is not in a satisfying place.”
    â€œI shall be, Uncle, if I may continue to be of use to you.”
    â€œYou can, as you know. There will be further need for your help.”
    â€œI will do my best, Uncle.”
    â€œHas a great change come over Simon?” murmured Walter.
    â€œDo you want any packing done for you, Edwin?” said Julia.
    â€œThank you. Deakin has done what I needed.”
    â€œSo Deakin has been in your confidence?” said Simon.
    â€œSimon’s true nature is not dead,” said his brother.
    â€œHe has known I am going away,” said Sir Edwin.
    â€œBut not with whom you were going?” said Simon.
    â€œI have not told him more than I said.”
    â€œAnd he has not told us anything. That shows he has known the whole.”
    â€œThere is nothing so strange about a marriage. It is an ordinary thing.”
    â€œThat is hardly true of this one. But you have every right to enter into it, as you do not need to be told.”
    â€œIt is true that the words are wasted. And there are others I need not have heard. When I return, I will hear no more of them. That means you will say no more.”
    â€œWhat will Fanny do in that house by herself?” said Simon, not looking at his uncle.
    â€œWhat other people do in similar case. And she will have a