And while in the twilight they still sat on, all told, all known.
Bess placed her arm gently round Ruth’s neck, and drawing her towards her called her sister, and pressed the kiss of peace upon her lips. Ruth had seen her duty from the first.
Not for one moment would she dispute the just claim of the man and woman she had unknowingly and unwittingly ousted.
She wished that the Hall should be Bess’s home until all was settled, and that there should she welcome her husband as the rightful owner when the strange story had been told, and Justice had acknowledged that it had added one more to its long list of innocent victims.
Not a word was said about Gertie’s claim until after the funeral of Heckett, but on the following day Ruth’s solicitors wrote Mr. Gurth Egerton an official letter which completely spoiled that worthy gentleman’s breakfast.
He flung the letter across the table to Birnie.
‘The bombshell’s dropped, Birnie!’ he exclaimed. ‘They’ve found a certificate of Ralph’s marriage with Gertie’s mother among the old man s papers. What the deuce shall I do?’
‘That’s awkward,’ answered Birnie. ‘What are the terms of the will?’
‘Ralph’s father left everything to me if his son died without legitimate issue.’
‘Ahem! And now they pretend that he married; that this girl is his daughter, and therefore entitled to the property?’