Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-09-20
CHAPTER &

NEDDY, Tins brOther-in-laW,
was a spoiled only son who. after
narrowly missing expulsion from
Harrow and being sent down from
Oxford, had lived an idle life at
his fathers expense. He had
plenty of brains, but no real inter-
est in anything except horses.
.Twenty-three years old at the time,
he had been the only Ashwell to
resent Esther's marriage. He had
been expecting his sister to make
a first-class match, thus on the one
hand providing him with brother
iii-law on whom he could sponge
lightly, and on the other removing
any fear that his sister would
have to be seriously considered in
the old mans will.
His manner toward Tim had at
first been one of downright rude
ness, and he had caused lot Of
awkwardness by deliberately alb
senting himself from the wedding.
There had subsequently been a
sort of rapprochement-Tim had
never allowed himself to be pro-
volxed into an open quarrel-and
Neddy visited The Wilderness
every now and then, though his be-
havior was usually moody and un-
gracious. To his credit it should
be added that he was really fond
Of Esther, and apart from any
question Of his own interest, he
sincerely believed she had thrown
herself away on the dentist.
On his fathers death Neddy de-
cided to go to America, and after
a jolly six months in New York,
where he spent the greater part
of his "a, 900, he reaped the harvest
of his prodigality in the shape Of
"a good job as gentleman trainer
at a racing stable in Virginia.
It was the only sort of work he
was really fit for, and he did at
last appear to be making good-at
least so his letters to Esther sug-
gested. He claimed to be making
money over and above his salary,
was enjoying the life, and had no
intention of returning to England
for many years.
Meanwhile Tim Kennedy, though
disappointed by the failure Of his
expectations from his father-in-
law-he had contemplated retiring
early to the easy life Of a country
gentleman-was able to put good
face on the matter. In point Of
fact he was singulariy free from
financial anxiety at this period.
His practice had extended enor-
rnously. and was now really lucra-
tive.
I Patients sometimes asked him
why he did not try his hand in
London, but he always smiled and
shook his head. The country life
suited him, and he was doing well
enough for his needs. He was not
avaricious, and on the steady In
come hewas receiving he could get
all he wanted out Of life. He had
ample leisure. for he had trained
Adams as a dental mechanic, and
the former corporal soon developed
GlOuSu SkAAu W JUSTLY LILAC OOAC6cS~
ton of some of the simpler work
to him.
Life indeed was very pleasant
for Kennedy during the, third
decade Of the century. Although
his egotistical makeup did not per-
NIT him to love his wife, he ad-
mired her beauty and he liked her
personally. This was easy enough,
for she was devoted to him with a
love that was not obtrusively pos
sessive, but held him with an en-
bracing warmth and solicitude.
She was very gracious and very
conscientious, and took it to be her
duty to smooth his path in every
way. She was sometimes apt to
wonder what had originally at
tracted her to this unassuming
unApectacular little man, and gen
orally concluded that it was an in
tuitive apprehension of his funda-
mental 1nasculinity.
She was always little in awe