“Not so degrading as being sued at the county court,” her uncle returned.

Mrs. Polkington felt there was truth in that, and, accustoming herself to a new idea with her usual rapidity, she even began to see that the alternative offered need not be so very unpleasant.  Indeed, when she came to think about it, it might be almost pleasant if the boarding-house were very select; there would be society of a kind, perhaps of a superior kind, even; she need not lose prestige and she could still shine, and without such tremendous effort.

But her reflections were interrupted by the Captain.

“And what part have I in this scheme?” he asked.

His brother-in-law, to whom the question was addressed, considered a moment.  “Well, I really don’t know,” he said at last; “of course you would live in the house.”

“A burden on my wife and daughter!  Idle, useless, not wanted!”

The banker had no desire to hurt Captain Polkington’s feelings, but he saw no reason why he should not hear the truth—­that he had long been all these things; idle, useless, unwanted, a burden not only to his wife and daughters, but also to all relations and connections who allowed themselves to be burdened.  But the Captain’s feelings were hurt; he was surprised and injured, though convinced of little besides the hardness of fate and the fact that his brother-in-law misunderstood him.  He turned to his wife for support, and she supported, corroborating both what he said and what her brother did too, though they were diametrically opposed.  It looked rather as if the discussion were going to wander off into side issues, but Julia brought it back by inquiring of her uncle—­

“What part have I in this scheme?”

“You will help your mother,” he answered, “and of course the concern will be nominally yours; that is to say, you will put your money in it, invest it in that instead of railways or whatever it is now in.  I shall see that the thing is properly secured.”

He glanced at Captain Polkington as he spoke, as if he thought he might have designs upon the money or investment.  Julia only said, “I see,” but in so soft a voice that she roused Mr. Ponsonby’s suspicions.  He had dealt a good deal with men and women, and he did not altogether like the amused observing eyes of the legatee, and he distrusted her soft voice of seeming acquiescence.

“It is of no use for you to get any nonsensical ideas,” he said, “about what you will do and won’t do; this is the only thing you can do; you have got to make a living, and you have got to pay your debts; beggars can’t be choosers.  The fact is, you have all lived on charity so long that you have got demoralised.”

Violet flushed.  “Really,” she began to say, “though you have helped us once or twice, I don’t think you have the right to insult—­” but Mrs. Polkington raised a quieting hand; she did not wish to offend her brother.