"Stoker, Bram - The Lady Of The Shroud" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

letter directed to my trustees, asking them to pay over annually till
further direction to Miss Janet MacKelpie at this address whatever
sum may remain over from the interest of my mother's bequest after
deduction of such expenses as you may deem fit for my maintenance,
clothing, and education, together with a sum of one pound sterling
per month, which was the amount my dear mother always gave me for my
personal use--"pocket-money," she called it.

With regard to your most kind and generous offer to give to my dear
Aunt Janet the sum which I would have given myself, had such been in
my power, I thank you most truly and sincerely, both for my dear aunt
(to whom, of course, I shall not mention the matter unless you
specially authorize me) and myself. But, indeed, I think it will be
better not to offer it. Aunt Janet is very proud, and would not
accept any benefit. With me, of course, it is different, for since I
was a wee child she has been like another mother to me, and I love
her very much. Since my mother died--and she, of course, was all-in-
all to me--there has been no other. And in such a love as ours pride
has no place. Thank you again, dear uncle, and God bless you.

Your loving nephew,
RUPERT SENT LEGER.


ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON'S RECORD--Continued,

And now re the remaining one of Sir Geoffrey's children, Roger. He
was the third child and third son, the only daughter, Patience,
having been born twenty years after the last of the four sons.
Concerning Roger, I shall put down all I have heard of him from my
father and grandfather. From my grand-aunt I heard nothing, I was a
very small kid when she died; but I remember seeing her, but only
once. A very tall, handsome woman of a little over thirty, with very
dark hair and light-coloured eyes. I think they were either grey or
blue, but I can't remember which. She looked very proud and haughty,
but I am bound to say that she was very nice to me. I remember
feeling very jealous of Rupert because his mother looked so
distinguished. Rupert was eight years older than me, and I was
afraid he would beat me if I said anything he did not like. So I was
silent except when I forgot to be, and Rupert said very unkindly, and
I think very unfairly, that I was "A sulky little beast." I haven't
forgot that, and I don't mean to. However, it doesn't matter much
what he said or thought. There he is--if he is at all--where no one
can find him, with no money or nothing, for what little he had he
settled when he came of age, on the MacSkelpie. He wanted to give it
to her when his mother died, but father, who was a trustee, refused;
and Uncle Roger, as I call him, who is another, thought the trustees
had no power to allow Rupert to throw away his matrimony, as I called
it, making a joke to father when he called it patrimony. Old Sir
Colin MacSkelpie, who is the third, said he couldn't take any part in