The Lady of the Shroud | Page 9

heard nothing, I was a very small
kid when she died; but I remember seeing her, but only once. A very
tall, handsome woman of a little over thirty, with very dark hair and
light-coloured eyes. I think they were either grey or blue, but I can't
remember which. She looked very proud and haughty, but I am bound
to say that she was very nice to me. I remember feeling very jealous of
Rupert because his mother looked so distinguished. Rupert was eight
years older than me, and I was afraid he would beat me if I said
anything he did not like. So I was silent except when I forgot to be, and
Rupert said very unkindly, and I think very unfairly, that I was "A
sulky little beast." I haven't forgot that, and I don't mean to. However, it
doesn't matter much what he said or thought. There he is--if he is at
all--where no one can find him, with no money or nothing, for what
little he had he settled when he came of age, on the MacSkelpie. He
wanted to give it to her when his mother died, but father, who was a
trustee, refused; and Uncle Roger, as I call him, who is another, thought
the trustees had no power to allow Rupert to throw away his matrimony,
as I called it, making a joke to father when he called it patrimony. Old

Sir Colin MacSkelpie, who is the third, said he couldn't take any part in
such a permission, as the MacSkelpie was his niece. He is a rude old
man, that. I remember when, not remembering his relationship, I spoke
of the MacSkelpie, he caught me a clip on the ear that sent me across
the room. His Scotch is very broad. I can hear him say, "Hae some
attempt at even Soothern manners, and dinna misca' yer betters, ye
young puddock, or I'll wring yer snoot!" Father was, I could see, very
much offended, but he didn't say anything. He remembered, I think,
that the General is a V.C. man, and was fond of fighting duels. But to
show that the fault was not his, HE wrung MY ear--and the same ear
too! I suppose he thought that was justice! But it's only right to say that
he made up for it afterwards. When the General had gone he gave me a
five-pound note.
I don't think Uncle Roger was very pleased with the way Rupert
behaved about the legacy, for I don't think he ever saw him from that
day to this. Perhaps, of course, it was because Rupert ran away shortly
afterwards; but I shall tell about that when I come to him. After all,
why should my uncle bother about him? He is not a Melton at all, and I
am to be Head of the House--of course, when the Lord thinks right to
take father to Himself! Uncle Roger has tons of money, and he never
married, so if he wants to leave it in the right direction he needn't have
any trouble. He made his money in what he calls "the Eastern Trade."
This, so far as I can gather, takes in the Levant and all east of it. I know
he has what they call in trade "houses" in all sorts of places--Turkey,
and Greece, and all round them, Morocco, Egypt, and Southern Russia,
and the Holy Land; then on to Persia, India, and all round it; the
Chersonese, China, Japan, and the Pacific Islands. It is not to be
expected that we landowners can know much about trade, but my uncle
covers--or alas! I must say "covered"--a lot of ground, I can tell you.
Uncle Roger was a very grim sort of man, and only that I was brought
up to try and be kind to him I shouldn't ever have dared to speak to him.
But when was a child father and mother--especially mother--forced me
to go and see him and be affectionate to him. He wasn't ever even civil
to me, that I can remember--grumpy old bear! But, then, he never saw
Rupert at all, so that I take it Master R- is out of the running altogether
for testamentary honours. The last time I saw him myself he was

distinctly rude. He treated me as a boy, though I was getting on for
eighteen years of age. I came into his office without knocking; and
without looking up from his desk, where he was writing, he said: "Get
out! Why do you venture to disturb me when I'm busy? Get out, and be
damned to you!" I waited where I was, ready to transfix him with my
eye when he should look up, for I cannot forget that when my father
dies I