Celia's House Read Online Free

up here. For years and years there have been old people in the house, and it’s high time there were children. There should be children here, young things growing up in the house, running about the grounds, playing by the river. Dunnian needs youth,” Miss Dunne said dreamily.
    Humphrey could not speak.
    â€œYou’ve got three children,” Miss Dunne said after a short silence. “Perhaps you’ll have more.”
    Humphrey was still feeling bewildered. “I hope so,” he murmured. “If we were settled… Alice likes children; so do I… It’s difficult when you’re moving about…”
    â€œYou will be settled. You should certainly have more children—not that I like children very much (I find them tiresome), but they grow up into people if you give them time. In my young days, parents were not afraid to admit they found their children tiresome. Now it is considered unnatural, and yet people have fewer. That always strikes me as strange.”
    â€œThey didn’t have to bother with their children,” Humphrey pointed out. “They just handed them over to a competent nurse, and—”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I mean,” said Miss Dunne. “They didn’t pretend they liked them. Now they pretend they like them and don’t have them.”
    â€œI like mine,” Humphrey said.
    â€œHow often do you see them?” she asked with a mischievous glance. “Well, never mind, Humphrey, I won’t tease you. We’ll say your children are never tiresome, never noisy or sticky or greedy or quarrelsome.”
    He smiled at her. Although he did not agree with all she said, he did not feel inclined to argue with her.
    â€œThat brings me to another point,” she said. “Perhaps I should have explained this at the beginning. My intention is that you shall be life-rented in the place. After your death I want Dunnian to go to your daughter Celia.”
    â€œYou mean Edith, of course—” Humphrey began in some surprise.
    â€œI mean exactly what I say,” retorted Miss Dunne. “Dunnian is to go to your daughter Celia. She will be born in the house—perhaps she will live in it for ninety years.”
    Humphrey drew a long breath. He was beginning to see the idea. It was a most extraordinary idea, but still—
    â€œI suppose you think I’m mad,” said Miss Dunne, glancing at him sideways. “My lawyer, Mr. Wanlock, as good as told me to my face that I was raving, but that didn’t upset me at all. I told him that if he couldn’t draw up my will as I wanted it, I would send for somebody else. That brought him to his senses. He’s gone back to Edinburgh to put the whole thing into legal jargon and a fine thing he’ll make of it, I don’t doubt. He’s to come back tomorrow with it all cut-and-dried, and if you’ve no objections I shall sign it.”
    â€œObjection!” Humphrey exclaimed.
    Miss Dunne smiled. She said, “What about your wife? Perhaps you’d rather wait and consult her about it. Would she be happy here? It’s quiet, you know. There are nice neighbors, but if she has been used to town—”
    â€œAlice would love it,” declared Humphrey. “Aunt Celia, you’ve no idea what this means…”
    His voice died away and there was a short silence. Humphrey saw she was tired and he felt guilty, for he had been warned not to tire her. He was just wondering whether he should leave her to rest for a while when he saw Becky come out of the drawing room window. Becky had been with Miss Dunne for years—she was an old friend—and Humphrey rose and shook hands with her.
    â€œWell, I never!” Becky said. “You’re older than I expected, Mr. Humphrey.”
    â€œYou’re younger than I expected,” replied Humphrey, laughing. “People who live here never grow older.”
    â€œYou were always one for