That is the only interpretation I can give to this
condition."
"Very likely that is so James. Really these women seem to get more
detestable every day."
Mr. Withers smiled at his wife's vehemence. "There is still another
reason why we cannot take the money. Ralph Conway has been as much
defrauded as Mabel, and his mother, as you see by her letters, is
determined not to sit down quietly under the wrong. What she means to
do I have not the slightest idea, nor do I think that there is the
most remote probability she will ever succeed in finding the will.
Tallboys appears to have made a most thorough search of the house, and
do what she will she cannot have any opportunity of searching as he
has done. Still she clearly has something on her mind. She intends to
make some attempt or other to discover the will, which, if found, will
benefit Mabel equally with her son. Therefore we cannot but regard her
as our friend and ally. Now, were we to accept the money for Mabel we
should in fact be acquiescing, not only in the wrong done to her but
in that done to Ralph. We should, in fact, be going over to the enemy.
We could not take their money and even tacitly connive in her efforts
to find the will."
"I agree with you entirely, James. It would be impossible; only I do
wish you had said all this before letting me be so foolish as to say
that I thought we ought to take it.
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