"You're extraordinarily like Mamma, Lot," said Hugh.
Yes, he was like his mother: he too was short, had very nearly her eyes, had very nearly her pretty hair, had the moulding of her young face.... He had been vain sometimes of his appearance in his youth, when he knew that he was a good-looking, fair-haired little chap. But he was vain no longer; and, beside Hugh, he felt an old woman, a slack-nerved old woman.... To be so tall, so broad-shouldered, so bold-eyed, with such a smiling-selfish mouth, such a cold heart, such calm, steel muscles and especially nerves; to care for nothing but your own comfort and victorious progress; to be able to live quietly on your mother's money and, when that was finished, calmly and quietly to throw your mother overboard and go your own way: that was the real sign of a strong attitude towards life! That meant keeping the world and your emotions under your thumb! That meant having no fear of what was coming or of approaching old age! That meant knowing nothing of nervous dread and never blubbering like an old woman, a slack-nerved old woman!
"And, in a very ugly edition, like Mamma: at least, so people say, Mummy," said Elly, softly.
And she kissed her mother-in-law: she too was sad, thinking of the old man ... and of Steyn ... and of poor Lot....
The bell suddenly rang upstairs, twice: that was for the companion.
"I haven't seen her yet," said Ottilie. "But what can it be?..."
"Oh dear, oh dear!" cried Anna, coming from the kitchen and driving the cat away. "It must be the mistress again, behaving funnily: you know, she sees things...."
But the companion came tearing down the stairs, with a pale face:
"I believe she's dying!" she exclaimed, "I'm going next door ... to telephone for the doctor...."
He took his hat and went out. Dismay hovered over the house. Mamma, Ottilie, Elly, the companion and Anna went upstairs.
He remained alone in the morning-room, sat down, amused himself by flinging his cap to the ceiling and catching it each time it fell.... He thought that his mother would not inherit much from Grandmother.... There would be beastly little; and even then it would be divided among many.
He lit a cigarette and, when Lot came back, opened the door to him, which Anna afterwards thought very nice of Hugh.