Edward Hopper Painting

Edward Hopper Painting
Crackenthorpe's Fancies, that's what they are. The old gentleman started it, Mr. Crackenthorpe's father. A sharp one he was, by all accounts. Made his fortune, and built this place. Hard as nails, they say, and never forgot an injury. But with all that, he was open-handed. Nothing of the miser about him. Disappointed in both his sons, so the story goes. Give 'em an education and brought 'em up to be gentlemen – Oxford and all. But they were too much of gentlemen to want to go into the business. The younger one married an actress and then smashed himself up in a car accident when he'd been drinking. The elder one, our one here, his father never fancied so much. Abroad a lot, he was, bought a lot of heathen status and had them sent home. Wasn't so close with his money when he was young - come on, him more in middle age, it did. No, they never did hit it off, him and his father, so I've heard."
Edward Hopper Painting
Lucy digested this information with an air of polite interest. The old man leant against the wall and prepared to go on with his saga. He much preferred talking to doing any work.
"Died afore the war, the old gentleman did. Terrible temper he had. Didn't do to give him any sauce, he wouldn't stand for it."
"And after he died, this Mr. Crackenthorpe came and lived here?"
"Him and his family, yes. Nigh grown up they was by then."
"But surely…. Oh, I see, you mean the 1914 war."
Edward Hopper Painting