And when Mrs. Cavendish looked up surprised indeed, as well as somewhat alarmed, Emma began and told her of the letter she had received from Mrs. Fanning; of her widowhood and destitution, and of her recent arrival in New York.
"All this is very distressing, my dear Emma, but you see in it only the natural consequences of a low marriage," said the old aristocrat.
"But the marriage is broken by death, dear grandma, and the error is atoned for by much suffering," said Emma, gently.
"Well, my dear, what does the poor woman want us to do?" inquired Mrs. Cavendish.
"She asks nothing, grandma. She simply writes to me, her sister's child—"
"Her half-sister's child!" haughtily interrupted the old lady.
"It is the same thing, grandma. Her half-sister's child, and her only living relative—"
"Her only living relative?" again interrupted the old lady. "Where is her own misguided daughter?"
"Supposed to be dead, dear grandma. Certainly dead to her," said Emma, sadly.
"Well, go on, child; go on."