"But," I said, "I do not want to disinter old controversies. If I have failed in achievement, you must judge me on my intentions. Lying here, though I am not a nervous woman, I have been compelled to think of the uncertainty of life. Let us, Spenworth," I said, "bury the hatchet. If anything happens to me, you must be our rock and anchor. You are the head of the family; Arthur is your brother; Will is your nephew--" "No fault of mine," growled Spenworth in a way that set everything trembling. He is obsessed by the idea that rudeness is the same thing as humour. "What's he been up to now?" "He has been 'up to' nothing, as you call it," I said. "But I should face my operation with an easier mind if I knew that Will's future was assured. _When_ the war is over and _if_ he is spared, it is _essential_ that he should have independent means of _some_ kind. It is pitiable that a man in his position... Do you not feel it--your own nephew? With the present prices, a thousand a year is little enough; but Arthur can do nothing to _increase_ his directorships; and if my poor guidance and support are withdrawn--' "What _is_ supposed to be the matter with you?" Spenworth interrupted. "I can hardly discuss that with _you_," I said. "Well, Brackenbury told me--and Arthur told Brackenbury--," he began. "Arthur and Brackenbury know nothing about it," I said. "For some time I have not been well, and it seemed worth the unavoidable risk of an operation if I might hope for greater strength and comfort. But I could not go under the anæsthetic with an easy mind if I felt that I had in any way omitted to put my house in order. Between us," I said, "bygones will be bygones. Will you not give me the satisfaction of knowing that, if we do not meet again, I am safe in leaving Arthur and my boy to your care? You _are_ the head of the family. Can my boy's future not be _permanently_ assured--here and now?" I was not bargaining or haggling; it was a direct appeal to his generosity... Spenworth hummed and hawed for a while; then he said: "I don't feel very much disposed to do anything more for that young man." "_More?_," I echoed. "Well, I paid up once," he said. "Arthur never told you, I suppose? Well, it was hardly a woman's province. I was acting _then_ as head of the family ... about the time when you thought fit to criticize me very frankly..." I had no more idea what he was talking about than the man in the moon! "Spenworth! I must beg for enlightenment," I said. "Oh, we'll let bygones be bygones," he answered. "The case was never brought to trial. But, as long as I'm likely to be called on to wipe up little messes of that kind, I'd sooner make a sinking-fund, to provide against emergencies, than pay Will money to get into more mischief and then have to stump up again." _More_ explicit than that he declined to be....