Penmarric Part IV

Now the war has ended, there is less demand for tin. Mark refuses to keep the mine open because it will not make a profit..and would cost a fortune to make sure it is up to standard for safety. Philip is in a constant battle with his father over keeping the mine going. He has no friends of his own class, and his best friend is Trevose. Soon after the war, Elizabeth, the youngest girl of the family goes to university (she is very clever). Jeanne the middle daughter, joins a nursing order of Anglican nuns. Hugh marries Rebecca Roslyn, the daughter of Joss, Janna's stepson from her first marriage. Janna hints to her son that he should get married. Philip has no desire to marry, although his siblings are now finding partners. As Mark comes closer to shutting down the mine, Philip tries desperately to think of a way of stopping him. With a change in the divorce laws, he suggests to his brothers that Janna could now divorce Mark for adultery alone, and that he's sure that his father is having an affair with Alice Penmar. Jan Yves has gossiped about this, and Philip hopes he could get him to testify to an affair. He writes to his father saying that if he closes down the mine, he will advise Janna to sue for divorce. He will drag Alice's name through the mud. Mark reads the letter, has a stroke and dies. Philip is upset that they were estranged.. but he fears that Mark will have left the estate and mine to Jan Yves.... and is amazed when he finds that his father, in spite of their problems, left Penmarric to him.