The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-10-18

The case of my brother EdWard Is
typical of many, and / set the facts
down here, partly as reminder to my
self. mainly for the information of 9TH
ers. I said once. when in the company
Of some other bright spirits, that the
pupils of yesterday are the teachers
of tomorrow, by which remark l meant
to convey that we learn in u youth
and in middle age become, in our turn,
the instructors. Poor Edward had the
same advantages that came to me In
school dass, the very same advant-
ages. Our mother consulted us IN
turn; l, the elder, decided, without
hesitation, to go into the city; Ed
ward, a year later, suggested that he
should go into an engineering place
at Wandsworth, on the other side OF
the river.
mo, no." / said when reached
home that night. 'This won't do at
all. Choose a refined occupation. We
don't want all Fulham to think that
the sweeps are continually coming in
and going out of the house. We may
have our faults, but no n can say
that we haven't always worn a clean
collar"
"PlI keep mine for Sundays" re-
marked Edward.
Mother" | went on, "please let 1t
be understood that this is a matter
which concerns me to some extent.
Supposed / wished to bring home q
friend from Bucklesbury, AMI suppos-
i-g that just as i opened the front
gate Edward came long. How should
/ be able to explain"
@Say," suggested Edward. shat l
was gciag in for Christy minstrel bust
ness in my spare time. Say that
was JUS off % st. James hail."
81 place my veto on the scheme-"
"You can place whHleyer you like"
he retorted, and it won't make any
difference"
Every we'll" / said, very well. In
that case | consider myself relieved OF
all responsibility. I've done with it.
Only, mind this, don't come to me in
after years"
81 promise that"
sand complain that ! omitted to
give you advice. Mother, you're a
Witness.
This difference Of opinion with Ed
ward provided me with a good answer
if ever the application should be
mad. after what Edward said to me
some time ago." / should say, Il must
decline to have anything to 90 with do
nestle expenses He is living in the
house; let him provide the sums
necess- for the upkeep of the estab-
lishment." AS it proved, no necessity
existed 1or this statement, because
they very wisely ~refrained from maxi
ing any appeal.
l heard of Edward occasionally by
the medium Of Miss C~harlesworth;
she also brought me news Of mother.
1 was living in Jubilee place, and Miss
Charlesworth's people kept a large
dairy in Kings road, Chelsea. ! called
In sometimes on my way home for a
couple of fresh eggs. Eggs can be car
ried in the pocket without observa-
ton, and, If folks are careful not to
crowd, without damage, whilst other
eatables have to be conveyed in a par
eel. i had strong objections to be
seen carrying a package of any kind.
Miss ~CharlesWorth had taken music
lessons from my mother in the old
days when there was not much money
about, and I always spoke pleasantly
when | called at the dairy, answering
her when she asked whether there
was anything special in the evening
papers.
! can never understand how it was
that / allowed myself to be imposed
upon by the C-harlesworths. If / took
Lily CharIeswcrth to one place of in
terest / took her to a dozen; the Ma
tional Gallery on a free day, the
Tower, the Outside of the Lyceum
theater, the South Kensington mu-
seum-any man, young at the time,
and in receipt of a stationary income,
can fill the list. Now and again she
wanted to talk about my brother Ed
ward; / changed the subject adroitly,
for / could not trust my temper where
QS WAS COuCC1ACOs IL was AC0A bAS
Albert memorial n evening (she
had seen it before, but, as / said, 1t
could do her no harm to see 1t again)
that / directed the conversation to the
subject of profits made on milk and
cream; the discussion began at a quar-
ter past z, and the information ! OBJ
tanned was satisfactory enough to in
duce me, at 20 minutes to s, to make
q definitely worded offer.
tits very kind Of you to ask me"
she said n~ervously, "but / think my
answer must be No"
"Come, come" / said pleasantly,
there's no occasion for all this coy
ness. We're friends"
"Yes." she said rapidly, friends.
That's FIST it. And there's no reason
why we shouldn't go on being friends.
Bat nothing more, please"
'Tha.," / remarked, IF you will al
low me to say SO, Lily, Verges on stu
nid;fv r doro GOV vasY fool that vnsI