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.So, both to protect you and the estate, I imagine, your father has in effect left both plantations to your eldest son, with the proviso that you have complete control until you die.The only thing you cannot do, ever, is sell or bequeath to anyone else.You'll know that has always been Hilton custom.Primogeniture, and not another thing considered.'Meg's head flopped up and down.But she had hardly listened to the details.They were hers.Everything.She was Mistress of Hilltop.Or she would be, in three years.Every playful dream, every arrogant boast, had suddenly become true.And Papa was dead.Oriole had done her best to make her hate him for what he had done, even while pretending to insist on her forgiving him.For what? He was her father.He had a right to touch her where he chose, surely, regardless of the law.He was her father.He had been her father.The tears came hard now, flooding down her face, soaking the collar of her already sweat-soaked jacket.Her knees gave way, and she sat while the two men looked at each other uncertainly.'And of course you need not go back to Mrs Paterson's care, if you do not wish it’ Walter Reynolds said.'To be frank, I never did care much for that woman, at the best of times.But Meg, we shall have to find someone to look after you.I mean.well.' He hesitated, obviously decided not to pursue the matter at this moment.'What would you like to do first?''I would like to see Papa,' she said.'Yes, well.'I want to go to Hilltop,' she insisted.She knew he would be already buried.In the heat of the tropics bodies could not be kept for longer than twenty-four hours.'Of course.Billy, see to the carriage.Meg.' He knelt beside her again.'You know you will not be able to live there.I mean, by yourself.'She found her handkerchief, and mopped at her face.There is nowhere else I want to live, she thought.Why shouldn't I be given my inheritance now? I am as much of a woman as I am likely to be at any future time in my life.I know as much about planting, or about growing bananas, as I shall ever know in my life.But she knew too that Walter Reynolds, the very epitome of legal rectitude, would never even consider it.In fact, to suggest it might throw him back in Oriole's direction, and that she was determined should never happen, even if she was forced to run away again.'Could.could we speak of it later, Uncle Walt?''Of course, my dear.Now, while Billy is getting the carriage, wouldn't you like to change your clothes? Have a bath? Something to eat?'She shook her head.‘I have no other clothes, Uncle Walt''My God.You've worn these for three weeks?'As if he couldn't tell, merely by looking.And smelling.'I had a change of linen,' she explained.'I will have to have some made, I suppose.Uncle Walt.am I rich or poor?''Ah, well.that is something we shall have to discuss, at a future time.Your father, I am happy to say, was a very careful man with his money.Of course, your cousin, Mrs Paterson, persuaded him to spend a great part of his reserve capital on this trip of yours to England.Against my advice, I may add.But you are certainly solvent, and Hilltop is doing as well as it has done at any time for the past fifty years.That is to say, you'll never be a millionairess, like, shall we say, your great-great-great-grandmother, Robert Hilton's stepmother, for example.But I do not think you'll ever want.And as for having some new clothes made, why, that is a simple matter.' He gave her a bright smile.'What you need is a husband.'The earth was still freshly turned, and there was no stone; it was in the process of being carved.Meg stood and stared, afraid to look around her.The carriage had driven straight to the cemetery, and yet the message had spread, and she could feel the presence of people, hear the scuffle of their feet; the evening breeze was already sweeping down from the Blue Mountains.She turned, slowly, gazed first of all at the shutters of the Great House, rising above her.Then looked down the hill, at the houses in the white compound, the huts in the Negro village.And between her and the houses, people.White and black and brown, drawn up the hill by the knowledge that their mistress had returned.She walked towards them, Walter Reynolds and his son flanking her protectively, and Helen McAvoy ran forward.'Meg.Oh, my poor, sweet child.'Meg allowed herself to be embraced, looked past Helen at Harry, and then the other book-keepers.'Where is Alan?'Helen released her.'Alan ?' She frowned.'I came back on his ship.Didn't you know that?''Good heavens.I knew he was due into Kingston sometime this week.But.'He hadn't come out, Meg thought bitterly.Although he would certainly have discovered by now that Anthony Hilton was dead.But he hadn't even troubled to come out.'Where's Hannibal?''Hannibal?' Helen looked over her shoulder at her husband.'Hannibal.ah.' Harry McAvoy came forward.'He pined, Meg.He just pined away, and died.Oh, several months ago.I'm surprised your father didn't write and tell you.'Meg gazed at him.Perhaps he did, she thought.And Oriole saw fit to suppress the news.So what have I come back to? An empty shell.Then a shell I shall have to set about reviving.But I am not even to be allowed to do that for three years [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]