“As I can,” said Mrs Riversley sternly. “This secret must be kept.”
“And what are you going to give me to keep it?” said the woman sharply.
“I am not rich, Jane—far from it,” began Mrs
Riversley.
“You’re rich enough to pay me twenty pounds a year always,” said the woman, with a keen greedy look in her unpleasant face.
“Yes, yes, Jane, I will,” said Mrs Riversley eagerly, “on condition that you keep it secret, and never come near us more.”
“Then I want that grey silk dress of Miss Mary’s,” said the woman, with the avaricious look growing in her face. “She won’t want to wear it now.”
“You shall have it, Jane.”
“And there’s that velvet jacket I should like.”
“You shall have that too, Jane.”