"Remain here a moment," said Mrs. Fortress; "I have something more to say to you."
She left me, and entered the bedroom, and in a short time my mother was quiet. Mrs. Fortress returned.
"She is more composed."
"You have a great power over her, Mrs. Fortress."
"No one else understands her." She held in her hand a letter, which she offered to me. "It was entrusted to me by your father, and I was to give it to you in the event of his dying away from Rosemullion, and before your mother. Perhaps you will read it here."
I did so. It was addressed to me, and was very brief, its contents being simply to the effect that Mrs. Fortress was to hold, during my mother's lifetime, the position she had always held in the household, and that I was, under no consideration, to interfere with her in the exercise of her duties. She was, also, as heretofore, to have the direction of the house.
"Are you acquainted with the contents of this letter?" I asked.
"Yes; your father, before he sealed it gave it to me to read. He gave me at the same time another document, addressed to myself."
"Investing you, I suppose, with the necessary authority." She slightly inclined her head. "I shall not interfere with you in any way," I said.
"I am obliged to you," she said, and then she re-entered my mother's apartment.