“She’s suggesting we put him in a home, Enid.” He got up as though he hadn’t heard what she’d said, his eyes on the stone. “A home. For what? So that she doesn’t have to look at him again? A home for useless, crippled little boys that no one wants, good-for-nothing little rejects, thrown from the tower for being hopeless. It’s not up to her what we do with him.”

“We’ll have nothing, Douglas. Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter what we do with him. She’s going to cut him off.”

He threw his cigarette down. “Why is everything money to you?”

Enid caught his arm. “Shut up, Douglas. They’ll hear you.”

He shoved her away. “What of it? Do you think we’ve any more to lose than we already have?”

“We’ll have to rely on Joan.”

“Who cares?” He pulled his arm free. “Joan’s not going to abandon us.”

“How do you know?” said Enid, her voice quiet. “She’ll spend it all on brandy and say whoops, sorry, all gone. She’ll have it siphoned out of her by Pat, or some other hanger-on.”

Douglas sat down again. “Your mother will live for years.”

“No, she won’t, Douglas. One day she’ll die and long before she does she’ll give it up. It’s us or Joan, don’t you see? Joan hates me.”

“No she doesn’t.”

“She does.”

“You act as if she’s done something to hurt you.”

“You act as if she’s your best friend.” She sat beside him, not touching him, and picked at her thumbnail, making it worse. “And what if she suddenly does get married and have children? It’s not too late.”

He laughed. “That’s not likely.”

“How do you know?”

“Well it’s not her thing, is it?”

“What do you mean, it’s not her thing? It’s everyone’s thing. Just because no one wants her.”

“Oh, someone wants her.”

“What are you talking about, Douglas? She hasn’t had a match in years.”

“Little Enid, shut away,” said Douglas, smiling. “London’s moved on, you know, and so has your sister.”

“Do you mean to say she’s got someone?”

“It’s right under your nose and you don’t see it. You’re as blind as—” he stopped.

She held her breath. “As what, Douglas? As who?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

She shook her head and chased away the image of their son, lying upstairs in his darkened room. “If my sister’s got someone, you better tell me.”

“Good God, Enid.” He leaned a little toward her as if he had all the time in the world. “Have you really never thought?”

“Whatever you’re saying, I can’t see that it has anything to do with anything. Unless she’s secretly engaged – is she secretly engaged?”