Harry said: ‘Doesn’t she get her mother’s share?’
Mr Charlton explained.
‘Señora Estravados, if she had lived, would of course have received an equal share with the rest of you, but as she is dead, the portion that would have been hers goes back into the estate to be shared out between you.’
Pilar said slowly in her rich Southern voice:
‘Then – I have – nothing?’
Lydia said quickly:
‘My dear, the family will see to that, of course.’
George Lee said:
‘You will be able to make your home here with Alfred – eh, Alfred? We – er – you are our niece – it is our duty to look after you.’
Hilda said: ‘We shall always be glad to have Pilar with us.’
Harry said:
‘She ought to have her proper share. She ought to have Jennifer’s whack.’
Mr Charlton murmured:
‘Must really – er – be going. Goodbye, Mrs Lee – anything I can do – er – consult me at any time…’
He escaped quickly. His experience enabled him to predict that all the ingredients for a family row were present.
As the door shut behind him Lydia said in her clear voice:
‘I agree with Harry. I think Pilar is entitled to a definite share. This will was made many years before Jennifer’s death.’
‘Nonsense,’ said George. ‘Very slipshod and illegal way of thinking, Lydia. The law’s the law. We must abide by it.’
Magdalene said:
‘It’s hard luck, of course, and we’re all very sorry for Pilar, but George is right. As he says, the law is the law.’
Lydia got up. She took Pilar by the hand.
‘My dear,’ she said. ‘This must be very unpleasant for you. Will you please leave us while we discuss the question?’
She led the girl to the door.
‘Don’t worry, Pilar, dear,’ she said. ‘Leave it to me.’
Pilar went slowly out of the room. Lydia shut the door behind her and turned back.
There was a moment’s pause while everyone drew breath and in another moment the battle was in full swing.
Harry said:
‘You’ve always been a damned skinflint, George.’
George retorted:
‘At any rate, I’ve not been a sponge and a rotter!’
‘You’ve been just as much of a sponge as I have! You’ve battened on Father all these years.’
‘You seem to forget that I hold a responsible and arduous position which–’
Harry said:
‘Responsible and arduous my foot! You’re only an inflated gasbag!’
Magdalene screamed: ‘How dare you?’
Hilda’s calm voice, slightly raised, said:
‘Couldn’t we just discuss this quietly?’
Lydia threw her a grateful glance.
David said with sudden violence:
‘Must we have all this disgraceful fuss over money!’
Magdalene said venomously to him:
‘It’s all very well to be so high-minded. You’re not going to refuse your legacy, are you? You want money just as much as the rest of us do! All this unworldliness is just a pose!’
David said in a strangled voice:
‘You think I ought to refuse it? I wonder–’
Hilda said sharply:
‘Of course you oughtn’t. Must we all behave like children? Alfred, you’re the head of the family–’
Alfred seemed to wake out of a dream. He said:
‘I beg your pardon. All of you shouting at once. It – it confuses me.’
Lydia said:
‘As Hilda has just pointed out, why must we behave like greedy children? Let us discuss this thing quietly and sanely and’ – she added this quickly – ‘one thing at a time. Alfred shall speak first because he is the eldest. What do you think, Alfred, we should do about Pilar?’
He said slowly:
‘She must make her home here, certainly. And we should make her an allowance. I do not see she has any legal claim to the money which would have gone to her mother. She’s not a Lee, remember. She’s a Spanish subject.’
‘No legal claim, no,’ said Lydia. ‘But I think she has a moral claim. As I see it, your father, although his daughter had married a Spaniard against his wishes, recognized her to have an equal claim upon him. George, Harry, David, and Jennifer were to share equally. Jennifer only died last year. I am sure that when he sent for Mr Charlton, he meant to make ample provision for Pilar in a new will. He would have allotted her at least her mother’s share. It is possible that he might have done much more than that. She was the only grandchild, remember. I think the least we can do is to endeavour to remedy any injustice that your father himself was preparing to remedy.’
Alfred said warmly:
‘Well put, Lydia! I was wrong. I agree with you that Pilar must be given Jennifer’s share of my father’s fortune.’
Lydia said: ‘Your turn, Harry.’
Harry said:
‘As you know, I agree. I think Lydia has put the case very well, and I’d like to say I admire her for it.’
Lydia said:
‘George?’
George was red in the face. He spluttered:
‘Certainly not! Whole thing’s preposterous! Give her a home and a decent dress allowance. Quite enough for her!’
‘Then you refuse to co-operate?’ asked Alfred.
‘Yes, I do.’
‘And he’s quite right,’ said Magdalene. ‘It’s disgraceful to suggest he should do anything of the kind! Considering that George is the only member of the family who has done anything in the world, I think it’s a shame his father left him so little!’
Lydia said: ‘David?’
David said vaguely:
‘Oh, I think you’re right. It’s a pity there’s got to be so much ugliness and disputing about it all.’
Hilda said:
‘You’re quite right, Lydia. It’s only justice!’
Harry looked round. He said:
‘Well, that’s clear. Of the family, Alfred, myself and David are in favour of the motion. George is against it. The ayes have it.’
George said sharply:
‘There is no question of ayes and noes. My share of my father’s estate is mine absolutely. I shall not part
