The soul of
generosity himself, he could not understand how anyone could frame a
speech so infernally mean.
"Of course," I broke in, "if Derrick liked to go to law he could no
doubt get his rights, there are three witnesses who can prove what
was the Major's real wish."
"I shall not go to law," said Derrick, with a dignity of which I had
hardly imagined him capable. "You spoke of your marriage, Lawrence;
is it to be soon?"
"This autumn, I hope," said Lawrence; "at least, if I can overcome
Sir Richard's ridiculous notion that a girl ought not to marry till
she's twenty-one. He's a most crotchety old fellow, that future
father-in-law of mine."
When Lawrence had first come back from the war I had thought him
wonderfully improved, but a long course of spoiling and flattery had
done him a world of harm. He liked very much to be lionised, and to
see him now posing in drawing-rooms, surrounded by a worshipping
throng of women, was enough to sicken any sensible being.
As for Derrick, though he could not be expected to feel his
bereavement in the ordinary way, yet his father's death had been a
great shock to him.
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