“This will be a terrible blow to that proud woman!” said Mr. Bell. “You must prepare her for the shock!”
“Prepare lady Ann!” exclaimed Wingfold. “Believe me, she is in no danger! An earthquake would not move her.”
“I must see her lawyer at once!” said Mr. Bell, rising.
“Let me have the papers, please,” said Wingfold. “Sir Wilton did not tell me to bring them to you. I must take them to sir Richard.”
“Then you do not wish me to move in the matter?”
“I shall advise sir Richard to put the affair in your hands; but he must do it; I have not the power.”
“You are very right. I shall be here till five o'clock.”
“I hope to be with you long before that!”
It took Wingfold an hour to find Richard. He heard the news without a word, but his eyes flashed, and Wingfold knew he thought of Barbara and his mother and the Mansons. Then his face clouded.
“It will bring trouble on the rest of my father's family!” he said.