In practice she still maintained something of maternal authority, often gaining her point by merely seeming offended.

To the two who had not yet reached the year of emancipation she allowed, in essentials, no appeal from her decision.
Between her and Richard there had been many a sharp conflict in former days, invariably ending with the lad's submission; the respect which his mother exacted he in truth felt to be her due, and it was now long since they had openly been at issue on any point.

Mrs.Mutimer's views were distinctly Conservative, and hitherto she had never taken Richard's Radicalism seriously; on the whole she had regarded it as a fairly harmless recreation for his leisure hours--decidedly preferable to a haunting of public-houses and music-halls.

The loss of his employment caused her a good deal of uneasiness, but she had not ventured to do more than throw out hints of her disapproval; and now, as it seemed, the matter was of no moment.

Henceforth she had far other apprehensions, but this first conflict of their views made her reticent.
'Just let me tell you how things stand,' Richard pursued, when his excitement had somewhat subsided; and he went on to explain the relations between old Mr.Mutimer and the Eldons, which in outline had been described to him by Mr.Yottle.And then-- 'The will he had made left all the property to this young Eldon, who was to be trustee for a little money to be doled out to me yearly, just to save me from ruining myself, of course.' Richard's lips curled in scorn.
'I don't know whether the lawyer thought we ought to offer to give everything up; he seemed precious anxious to make me understand that the old man had never intended us to have it, and that he _did_ want these other people to have it.