Arthur's Inheritance

Fifteen-year-old Arthur Murray is determined not to drift on uncertain prospects after his father's death. In a household strained by debt, pride, and his mother's dependence on her pampered Persian cats, he chooses practical work in a London shop over the fading comforts of gentility. His decision, first encouraged by Jack Brading's father and later defended by Mr. Andrews, shocks his sisters: Annie clings to ideas of family honor, while Molly quietly supports him and helps keep the household going through thrift and sacrifice. Arthur's growing independence is sharpened by small rebellions and hard realities. He refuses to waste money on expensive cat food, buys cheap fried fish instead, and begins to see just how fragile the family's finances are. At Brading's, he faces the seriousness of earning money, while at home Molly remakes old clothes and the family learns to live more carefully. Yet danger follows him: Lady Mary's anger, suspicions over a missing letter, and threats to protect the Murray name all suggest that class prejudice, family secrets, and scandal may still upend his future. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.