Testimony Of Two Men by Taylor Caldwell Page B

‘Doesn’t’ is the word, Mother. ‘Don’t’ is plural, not singular.”
    “Are you correcting my English now, Robert?” She was very agitated.
    “Mother, you are among strangers in Hambledon. In Philadelphia you had friends who overlooked your errors. Forgive me, but it is true.”
    “My father was an intellectual minister! He didn’t believe that ladies should be overburdened with learning, but he taught me himself.”
    He didn’t teach you much, then, thought the incalcitrant Robert. Then he gentled. “Mother, I’m only trying to help.”
    “You are impertinent, Robert. You are ungrateful. First, you decline to practice in Philadelphia, where we have old, devoted friends. Then you decide on this miserable little country place and come under the influence of a frightful man —I know it!—who don’t, I mean doesn’t, have any reputation among respectable people. You bring me here, in this damp town, with my arthritis, and insist on me leaving all my friends—”
    “Mother, you needn’t stay here if you don’t like it. You can always live in Philadelphia.”
    “Leave you stay here alone? Alone! Among corruptions? You must think I’m an unnatural mother! Robert, how could you have possibly believed that?”
    Robert was silent. She said, “Besides, I’ve already rented our home, for a very good rental. You are all I’ve got, Robert.”
    “You have all my aunts in Philadelphia, and my cousins,”
    “My only child! Thrown to the heathen.”
    I must be patient, thought Robert. She said, “That murderer! And to think my only child has been influenced by him! It’s criminal. He should be driven from the country.”
    Robert sighed. “He was acquitted, Mother.”
    “We’ve come to a pretty pass, in this nation, when criminals can be loosed on the public again to continue their crimes.” She put her handkerchief to her dry eyes. “I only know this, Robert: He will never enter the home so long as I am alive.”
    “I don’t think he’ll come without an invitation. Mother, wouldn’t you like to lie down before dinner?”
    She was tempted not because she was really in pain but because bed had always been her retreat and her revenge against her family. But Robert was “strange,” and her fright quickened. She must know more of this mystery in order to defend herself. She said, “I am too stimulated by that dreadful journey, and all the soot and the noise. It was my first experience in traveling. I didn’t like it. Those vulgar people!”
    “It was only four hours, Mother, and you traveled Pullman.”
    “Four hours of sheer misery, Robert! You don’t know what it means to be a delicate female.”
    Thank God, thought Robert. “Well, it’s oyer now. We can make plans. The house nearest the offices is smaller than the others I looked at, but it’s very comfortable. Four nice bedrooms, with a good view. And servants are cheaper than in Philadelphia. There’s a nice garden and really pleasant lawns. The price is very reasonable, too. I think you’ll like it.”
    “Only four bedrooms? One for you, Robert, one for me, the other two for servants. Where shall our guests sleep?”
    “We can build another bedroom onto the house. There is a lot of land.”
    “Expensive! What do they want for the home?”
    “Only ten thousand dollars.”
    “Exorbitant! In this little country place!”
    “It’s in the best section. By the way, Mrs. Ferrier has asked you to tea tomorrow, if you feel well enough.” He added, “She is considered the first lady in Hambledon, Mother.”
    “I shouldn’t dream— You said, ‘the first lady’? How could that be, with her son a murderer?”
    “Mother, the judge and the jury decided he wasn’t a murderer! Please remember that. If you call him a murderer here, you can be sued for libel. Well. I must decline the invitation, then?”
    “Oh, how my poor headaches! You confuse me, Robert. Decline? Did I say so? How you confuse me!”
    “Suppose you think of it