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 shall be Head of my House. But when he did there was