Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/284

 to depreciate himself, but it was no proper work for any other member of the family. There was a silence between them. Then Edward, drawing a quick breath, said:

"How about Alice Ruggles? What does she think about all this?"

"I'm sure I don't know," said James coldly. "She hasn't heard about it yet."

"She probably still thinks she is engaged to be married to you."

"I never said I'd marry her," said James.

And Edward blushed. He blushed to think that he could have a brother who should make such a speech as that.

"So if you still want Alice," said James, "you can probably have her."

Edward fought down his rage. "What?" he asked, "are you going to do about your little boy?"

"What little boy?"

"You know."

"I do not know."

"He looks precisely like the pictures of you at the same age. And his mother said that you were his father. She ought to know."

"Young Edward," said James, "would it inconvenience you too much to concentrate your attention on your own affairs?"

"John shielded us from the scandal and relieved