Ancred

Miss Desdemona Ancred seems to have picked it up by the edge.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

The capital of this fund to be held in trust and ultimately devoted to the preservation and endowment of Ancreton as a historical museum of drama to be known as The Henry Ancred Memorial.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

It had a teak and iron door, emblazoned in the Ancred arms, and with a great keyhole.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

It had also been the custom, Sir Henry was saying, on these occasions, for the fortunate Ancred to reveal to his family the manner in which he had set his house in order.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

Only Thomas (Ancred was resting in 1904 when Thomas was born) is free of it.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

Ridiculous incidents from the Ancred repertoire flashed up in her mind.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

Soft music rumbled synthetically behind the front curtain, which (an inevitable detail) was emblazoned with the arms of Ancred.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

Perhaps the imagination of this earlier Ancred was exhausted by the begetting of his monster, for he was content to leave, almost unmolested, the terraced gardens and well-planted spinneys that had been laid out in the tradition of John Evelyn.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

Old Ancred went about bragging that he was going to have himself mummified.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935

There was a plethora of fancy carving, a display of stained-glass windows bearing the Ancred arms, and a number of presumably collateral quarterings.

Final Curtain Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1935