– So, who was this girl Vivian? – Richard asked his mother as his younger brother left the dining room. He had been watching the quarrel between his mother and brother, which did not embarrass him, but amused him and kindled a fire of curiosity: who was his mysterious cousin that she could marry a rich gentleman without bringing him a cent in dowry?
"There must be something special about her," Richard decided. – It is not without reason that she is so disdained by my mother. And what has she done to make my mother hate her so much?"
Despite their frequent correspondence, Lady Cranford and her eldest son were not in a hurry to share with each other news of misunderstandings with other members of their family, so Richard had no information about the confrontation between Miss Cowell and his mother. And Lady Cranford did not wish the scandal at Greenhall to be known to her son: she knew that, like Anthony, Richard would reproach her for her shortsightedness and perhaps also be angry that she had nearly ruined the excellent reputation of the Cranfords. So, the Countess kept silent, and asked Anthony to keep silent too, who agreed only because he did not wish to cause his brother any more trouble.
– I wrote to you about her: she is the daughter of my late elder sister Catherine," Lady Cranford reminded her son in a calm tone. – She came to Greenhall with only a suitcase and great ambition to marry well.
– And she had succeeded," Richard remarked. – The wealth of her husband's family is still gossiped about. They say the late Wington not only had huge bank accounts and chests of gold, but also large estates, both in England and abroad.
– I have heard of that family too," Agnes Cranford put in. – My father knew the late man, and told me that he was stingy and intractable…
– All right, you'll have ride your pony, but only when I am with you! – His father told him sternly and took the spoon away from him. – If you're sure you're done with breakfast, you can go to the nursery!
– Do you promise me, Daddy? Promise? – Albert's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands together. – When? How about now?
– Buddy, can't you see that Daddy is still eating breakfast? – his mother gently reprimanded the boy. – Go and play in the nursery.
– No, I'm going to Kitty's! I promised to tell her a story! – Albert said and jumped up from the table and looked at his father sternly: "Papa, when you have breakfast, come to Kitty's for me! Do you promise?