She did not think it likely, therefore, that the hiding-place
would be discovered, and she felt assured that were it discovered it
would be found empty.
"Very well," she said, in a quiet, determined voice, as she laid down
the letter. "Mr. Tallboys has failed. Now, I shall take up the matter.
I dare say you think that you have won, Miss Penfold; that you are now
mistress beyond dispute of Herbert's property. You will see the battle
has only just begun. It will last, I can tell you, all your lives or
mine."
A week later an altogether unexpected event took place. When Mr. and
Mrs. Withers were at breakfast a letter arrived from Mr. Littleton,
now solicitor to the Miss Penfolds. Upon opening it it was found to
contain an offer upon the part of the Miss Penfolds to settle the sum
of a hundred a year for life upon Mabel, upon the condition only that
the allowance would be stopped upon her marriage, unless that marriage
received the approval, in writing, of the Miss Penfolds. The letter
was addressed to Mr. Withers, and after reading it through he passed
it to his wife without a word. She was too surprised to say anything
for a moment, especially as Mabel was in the room, and she laid the
letter beside her until breakfast was over and Mabel had gone out.
"Well, James, what do you think of it?" she asked.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200