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simply can't help talking of ordinary, everyday things even when something awful has happened? I suppose it is that one just doesn't realise it at first.'
    'No, I think it is that uncle didn't really matter to any of us,' replied Stella thoughtfully.
    'Oh, Stella, how can you?' cried Janet, shocked.
    'But it's perfectly true,' Stella said, resting her chin in her cupped hands, and wrinkling her brow a little. 'When he was here he made himself felt because for one thing he was a domestic tyrant, and for another he had a pretty strong personality. But he didn't matter to us because we didn't like him.'
    'I'm sure I was always very fond of him,' said Janet primly.
    Another silence fell. Miss Matthews' voice made itself heard from the other end of the room. 'All those lovely ivory brushes and things too! With G. M. on the backs, so they won't be any use to Randall, and it's obviously meant that Guy should have them. And I do think we ought to give something of Gregory's to Mr Rumbold.'
    'I fail to see what claim Mr Rumbold has on any of Gregory's possessions,' said Mrs Lupton.
    'Not a claim exactly, but he is such a close friend, and we had him to stay when Mrs Rumbold went to visit her sister. Really quite like one of the family, for I'm sure he treated this house like a second home, playing chess with Gregory, you know. Though I shall always feel it's a pity he ever married That Woman.'
    'Harriet,' said Mrs Lupton, not mincing matters, you're a sentimental fool, and always have been.'
    'I may be a fool,' said Miss Matthews with a rising colour, 'but I wish very much that Mr Rumbold weren't away, because at least he's a Man, in spite of being married to That Woman, and he could advise me.'
    'I have very little opinion of men,' stated Mrs Lupton, 'and I fail to see that you stand in any need of advice. Nothing can be done until the Will has been read. I have no doubt that will make very unpleasant hearing, but at least it cannot come as a shock to those of us who have seen what has been going on under our noses for the past five years.'
    Stella did not feel that she could let this pass. 'Yes,' she said across the room. 'Mother said today that she believed uncle was fonder of her than of either of his sisters.'
    Mrs Lupton bent a cold stare upon her. 'I can well imagine that your mother may have said so, but if she supposes that your uncle had any real affection for anyone but himself she is a bigger fool than I take her for.' She turned back to her sister. 'Has anyone remembered to inform Randall of his uncle's death?' she demanded.
    'I'm sure it's no use asking me,' replied Miss Matthews. 'I have had far too much to think of.'
    'If there's one thing more certain than anything else it is that we don't want Randall coming here to make things ten times more unbearable than they are already,' said Guy.
    'My opinion of Randall must be as well known to you as it is to him,' said Mrs Lupton, 'but personal feelings are beside the point. So far as we know Randall is his uncle's heir. He is certainly the head of the family, and he should be summoned.'
    'I must say,' remarked Janet with an air of originality, 'that I don't like Randall. I know it's wrong of me, but I just can't help it. He's the sort of person I could never trust. I don't know why, I'm sure.'
    'Oh, because he's like an amiable snake,' said Stella light-heartedly. 'Smooth, and fanged.'
    The door opened. 'Mr Randall Matthews!' announced Beecher.

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    Chapter Three

    'Hell!' said Guy audibly.
    There entered a sleek and beautiful young man who paused just inside the door, and glanced round at his assembled relatives with a bland and faintly mocking smile. He was dressed with the most finicking care, and nothing could have been more symphonic than the blend of his shirt with his silk socks and his expensive tie. His figure was extremely elegant; his hands were well-manicured; his jet-black hair was brushed into waves undisturbed by the slightest disorder; and his teeth were so