Then that other woman, whose existence I can never recall without a shudder, seized her hateful opportunity, and levelled the most virulent abuse at my poor martyr mother’s head. Words, such as I had never heard from a female before, rained thickly from her lips, until I lost sight of my own grief in my indignation at the shower of inuendoes which were being hurled at the person dearest to me of all the world.
‘Be silent,’ I said in a loud authoritative voice. ‘Were you twenty times my mother I would not permit you to speak as you are speaking now. If it is true that you were my father’s wife, why were you not in your proper place, instead of leaving your lawful duties to another?’
‘Oh! madam here can answer that question better than myself. She knows well enough there was no room left for me where she was.’
‘Untrue!’ murmured my mother, but without any anger. ‘I would have shielded your character from your boy’s censure, as I have done for so long, but justice to the dead compels me to speak. You left this home desolate for many miserable years before I entered it. You deserted your child in his infancy, but your husband had so good and forgiving a heart that, when you cried to him for pardon, he took you back again and condoned your great offence, and therefore, when you left him a second time, the law contained no remedy for his wrong. He was compelled to live on—alone—dishonoured and comfortless, whilst you—you can best tell your son what your life has been since.’
‘Anyway I am Mrs Vere,’ retorted the other, ‘and my husband has died intestate, and his property belongs to me, so I’ll thank you to take your brat, and clear out of my house before the sun goes down.’
‘Oh! mother, this is infamous! It can never be!’
‘It must be, Charlie! It is the law. I knew all this when I consented to come here as your father’s wife. He never deceived me for a single moment; and if I have any regret that he put off providing against this contingency until it was too late, it is only for fear lest he should be regretting it also. But, my dear, dear love!’ she added in a lower tone, ‘I acquit you of this as of all things. I know your great love for me never failed, and I am content!’
‘I will not believe it without further proof!’ I exclaimed. ‘I will send Ellen at once for the solicitor. I cannot leave you alone with this horrid woman!’
‘Hush, Charlie! she is your mother.’
‘I will not acknowledge it. You are the only mother I have ever had—the only mother I ever will have to my life’s end.’