e made up for it afterwards. When the General had gone he gave
me a five-pound note.

I don't think Uncle Roger was very pleased with the way Rupert behaved
about the legacy, for I don't think he ever saw him from that day to
this. Perhaps, of course, it was because Rupert ran away shortly
afterwards; but I shall tell about that when I come to him. After all,
why should my uncle bother about him? He is not a Melton at all, and I
am to be Head of the House--of course, when the Lord thinks right to take
father to Himself! Uncle Roger has tons of money, and he never married,
so if he wants to leave it in the right direction he needn't have any
trouble. He made his money in what he calls "the Eastern Trade." This,
so far as I can gather, takes in the Levant and all east of it. I know
he has what they call in trade "houses" in all sorts of places--Turkey,
and Greece, and all round them, Morocco, Egypt, and Southern Russia, and
the Holy Land; then on to Persia, India, and all round it; the
Chersonese, China, Japan, and the Pacific Islands. It is not to be
expected that we landowners can know much about trade, but my uncle
covers--or alas! I must say "covered"--a lot of ground, I can tell you.
Uncle Roger was a very grim sort of man, and only that I was brought up
to try and be kind to him I shouldn't ever have dared to speak to him.
But when was a child father and mother--especially mother--forced me to
go and see him and be affectionate to him. He wasn't ever even civil to
me, that I can remember--grumpy old bear! But, then, he never saw Rupert
at all, so that I take it Master R--- is out of the running altogether
for testamentary honours. The last time I saw him myself he was
distinctly rude. He treated me as a boy, though I was getting on for
eighteen years of age. I came into his office without knocking; and
without looking up from his desk, where he was writing, he said: "Get
out! Why do you venture to disturb me when I'm busy? Get out, and be
damned to you!" I waited where I was, ready to transfix him with my eye
when he should look up, for I cannot forget that when my father dies I
shall be Head of my House. But when he did there was no transfixing
possible. He said quite coolly:

"Oh, it's you, is it? I thought it was one of my office boys. Sit down,
if you want to see me, and wait till I am ready." So I sat down and
waited. Father always said that I should try to conciliate and please my
uncle