“No, they tried to cheat me—to bring a son to claim your father’s property. She ought to have died, that Catharine Lacy.”
“But she did not. Where is she now? Is she alive? Oh! tell me, mother. I shall never be happy again unless you do!”
“Yes, she’s alive. I saw her myself, changed but alive. The other girl died. I didn’t want that, for she would have been rich, and you might have done well with her.”
“Then you knew about my wife?”
“Knew? yes! Did you think I was cheated?”
“But why did you leave her to die there?”
“How could I help it? She would hide herself till the last minute, and it was cheaper there. Sickness costs money, money, I tell you.”
“And you are certain Louisa died in the hospital? But there is no register of her death!”
“We had that changed, the numbers and the names. Louisa would die, Catharine would live. We couldn’t help it.”
“But where is Catharine?”