Ivy Compton-Burnett - A Heritage and its History

“Hamish must come, if he is to be in time,” said Sir Edwin, as he sat in his library. “I begin to count my days. I shall soon count the hours. I have had many, and except for one time, have not wished them fewer. And I have had the young Hamish, and come to feel him near me. I must see him and say my word before I go. I have not to gather my sheaves. I have none to gather. I have done little, as there was little for me to do. I leave no one the worse for my living, and have not looked for more. I have not seen myself outside my place.”

“Hamish will come, Edwin. You need not fear,” said Rhoda. “He is on his way.”

“It will be hard to be without you, Uncle,” said Simon.

“It will scarcely be that. But it will be harder than if you were young. The years have brought us closer. When I lost my brother, I felt you were his son. And that put us on our path.”

“I have been glad for my sons to know you, and at an age to be able to do so. It is a thing for them to carry with them.”

“A small thing, but perhaps of good. They have seen me as a harmless old man. And it is something to feel in that measure. It does not do nothing.”

“I am simply sad,” said Fanny. “I cannot say anything else.”

“My sister!” said Rhoda. “How I shall need your sadness, its help to me in mine! It is what gives the help.”

“The little ones are coming to see you, Uncle. They will come with the boys and Naomi. They will not know_____”

“It is goodbye,” said Sir Edwin. “It would not matter to them. But it is a thing they may escape.”

“How are you, sir?” said Graham, as he led in the group. “We have come upon you in a body. You are good to welcome us.”

“I am as you see. And fortunate to be so. At ease after ninety-four years, in every sense.”

“We have come to say goodbye,” said Claud. “We heard Miss Dolton say so. I don’t know why, when you are not going away.”

“There is no reason,” said Emma, in a low voice. “But when someone is old, it may be a politeness.”

“Do you like old people?” said Sir Edwin.

“Yes,” said Emma. “We look up to age. I mean when the old person is worthy of it.”

“Of course, when people are old, they look as if they are,” said Claud.

“Say goodbye to Miss Dolton for me. We have liked each other.”

“But she has not been here. How can you say goodbye?”

“It is a mark of respect,” whispered Emma. “A good person always respects governesses. I knew about that.”

“Would you like a farewell present from me?” said Sir Edwin.

“Yes, please,” said Claud. “Of course everyone likes a present. But that is not asking for one.”

“Here is half-a-crown for each of you.”

“Thank you. That is more than we have ever had. But no one need take care of it for us. We are past that.”

“Goodbye,” said Sir Edwin, holding out his hand.

“Goodbye. We knew you would say it soon. Of course you can’t bear much.”

“Kiss your great-uncle’s hand,” said Julia.

“No,” said Claud, drawing back.

“Do as Grandmamma says,” said Simon.

“No,” said Claud. “We never kiss people’s hands.”

“You will do as you are told,” said Simon.

“No, it is not what you do yourself. You don’t set the example.”

“That is not the same thing,” said Simon, finding himself unprepared to do this. “You must obey me when I speak.”

“No, you have told us to do something that is not—” Claud paused for the word.

“Reasonable,” said Emma. “Why shouldn’t we kiss his face?”

“Well, you may do that,” said Fanny.

“Is that any better?” said Sir Edwin.

“Yes,” said Claud, as he obeyed. “We don’t mind a face being old. It is as good in a way as a young one. Of course there has to be everything.”

“I should not have yielded to the elder children,” said Simon, as the younger left them.

“But he went too far with them,” said Emma’s voice. “It is known to have had its result.”

“I would never kiss a person’s hand,” said Claud. “No one is quite so much above us.”

“Are my elder great-niece and nephews to spend an hour with me?” said Sir Edwin.

“If they may,” said Julia. “Miss Dolton has come for the younger. She is always so reliable and thoughtful.”

“I would not stay where I was called such things,” said Ralph.

“Then you would not stay anywhere,” said Simon. “And possibly will not.”

“Well, I can settle in the final refuge, where such qualities are not expected. It is the lack of them that has led to it.”

“I have forbidden that talk. You appear not to follow simple speech. I will make it simpler. I will not have the word mentioned.”

“What word?” said Ralph.

“Do you need me to tell you?”

“You should be able to. You have not scrupled to use it. And we owe it to you.”

“The workhouse,” said Sir Edwin, smiling. “The talk of it has amused me.”

“I fear it has been meant to,” said Simon. “It has become conscious talk; indeed we must say self-conscious. You are too kind to them.”

“Well, I am living a last scene. I am preparing a memory. I must be allowed to be at my best.”

“You have not to erase other memories,” said Fanny. “Your task is not a hard one.”

“Edwin,” said Julia,“—I am the last person to call you that, and have you do the same to me — if you meet my Hamish, you will tell him all I should wish? You know what it is. I need not use the words.”

“I will tell him, if I meet him.”

“But you do not think you will, sir?” said Ralph.

“No one can be sure,” said Julia.

“We can be; we are,” said Sir Edwin. “You mean we may be wrong.”

“Is this a good choice of subject?” said Simon, to his son.

“It was not I who introduced it.”

“I am glad not to feel I shall meet people,” said Graham. “Fancy meeting someone when you had lost his letters, or lost what he left you, through trying to increase it, when it was enough, and you had no right to it! I should find it too much.”

“I should like to meet everyone,” said Walter. “I should not dream of doing such things. I am wonderful with people’s memories. I am glad for Uncle to know it.”

“Yes, we are here to think only of him,” said Simon.

“Graham had not mentioned himself before,” said Fanny.

“It was more than a mention then.”

“Why are we supposed to take so little interest in ourselves?” said Naomi. “I suppose people can’t believe we can take any. And of course we do have to hide it.”

“If you remember my wish, Edwin, I will say no more,” said Julia.

“I will remember, as long as I have a memory.”

“And that will be during your life here,” said Ralph, glancing at his father.

“So I must see Hamish before it ends. I shall carry nothing with me.”

“He should be here at any hour,” said Rhoda. “It may be at this one.”

“We will all go and leave you with him,” said Simon.

“No, you will stay,” said Sir Edwin, leaning forward and laying his hand on his, as if to hold him. “You must hear my words and remember them. You know what they will be. I must leave Hamish in my place, and feel he will fill it. I want to trust you and him. The truth of this moment depends on the truth to come.”

“I understand you, Uncle. You may trust me.”

“I will not say more before he is here. My strength is not much, and is ebbing. I am wise to save it.”

“Are we all to be here, sir?” said Graham.

“All of you who will stay. It secures my purpose.”