“Proceed, sir. I can bear it, however severe your revelation may be.”
“My revelation is simply this, Jennie,” said the merchant, impressively. “You have no claim to the name of Arlington.”
“No claim to my name?” she cried, clinching her hand on the chair.
“You were only an adopted daughter of Mr. Arlington’s,” he continued, as if in haste to dispose of an unpleasant subject.
“Can this be true? Who were my parents?”
“That I cannot tell you. He adopted you from an alms-house.”
She gave a quick gasp, as of a person drowning; turned, and walked to the door with trembling step. In a moment she was gone.
It was the hardest blow her proud spirit could receive. Sick at heart, she walked resolutely on, spurning the proffered sympathy of Mr. Leonard, who had followed her in alarm.
But we must accompany the reader to a different scene.
That night found Will Somers safely in the basement of Mr. Leonard’s store, where he had managed to remain without attracting attention.