Unknown Ajax Part II

Matthew Darracott arrives with his wife and sons, and he is very annoyed because he had believed that he was heir to the title and estate. His elder son, Vincent, is a selfish rake, and gambler, and he too is annoyed. Claud, the second son, is a dandy who tries to create fashion trends but is not very original. He likes women, but is afraid of matchmaking mothers so he usually flirts with girls from the lower classes who are not likely to seek marriage. He is good natured and not very clever, and has inherited a small fortune from a relative. Vincent does not get on with him because he resents Claud having money, and because he finds his innocuous trifling with young women ridiculous. He is also sardonically amused at Claud's attempts to develop fashionable quirks, such as a shovel for taking snuff. Richmond is eager to meet his cousin, and the family are surprised when Hugh, known as Hugo turns up. He is a big sturdily built man in his late 20s, and he seems amiable and shy. Mrs Darracott takes a liking to him, feeling sorry for him, having come from a modest background and suddenly having to cope with a new family and a new rank of society. She also does not fit in too well with the Darracotts, being gentle and shy, so she sympathises with him. However they are surprised when he talks with a broad Yorkshire accent and seems incredibly placid and gentle for someone who has been in the army. He startles the family at dinner by mentioning that he has been in prison, but it comes out that he was a prisoner of war, during his army service. Lord Darracott severely discourages him from talking about his background in Yorkshire, and also from talking about his army service, in case it encourages Richmond to want to go into the military. However Hugo is shaken when his grandfather tells him that it would be a good idea if he married his cousin Anthea, who is 22. She knows the estate and could help him fit in with upper class ways. Anthea is furious when she learns about this plan. She has not taken to Hugo who seems absurdly good tempered, but her mother reminds her that she has only had 1 season in London and she did not get any suitable offers of marriage.. and she does not have much money, so her chances of marrying are slender.. so Hugo might be her only chance.