It did not
seem either mean or cowardly to take advantage of a rival's absence and
gain his object, by deception. So, perhaps, it was in the beginning, when
the world was young. In those days also a mother and son helped each
other in deception, and so since then have many thousands of mothers
(incompetent or vicious) led their children to ruin.
"Of course," said Mrs. Agar, "if Jem goes and does things of that
description he must take the consequences."
Arthur said nothing in reply to this. The thought had been his for some
months, but he had never put it into shape.
"We are perfectly justified," she went on, "in acting as if Jem were dead
until he deigns to advise us to the contrary."
This also was putting a long-cherished thought into form.
Arthur knew that he ought to have told his mother then and there that Jem
had taken every step in his power to advise him as soon as possible of
the falseness of the news transmitted to the newspapers. But something
held him silent, some taint of hereditary untruthfulness.
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