“Mother, snap out of this! You’re worried about Father and it has made you morbid. Nothing will happen to you. The doll has been destroyed, and in any case, we know it’s only a stupid effigy.”
Dropping her head wearily on the chair back, Mrs. Rhett smiled and said nothing. Closing her eyes, she relaxed for a moment. Penny and Lorinda thought she might be dropping off to sleep, so they moved quietly away.
Mrs. Rhett’s eyes opened then and she said: “Oh, Lorinda!”
“Yes, Mother.”
“There’s something I wish to mention—about my will.”
“Your will?” the girl repeated with distaste. “Why talk about that—now of all times!”
“There may be no better time,” Mrs. Rhett said. “As you know, my will is kept in the safe. It leaves this house and nearly all of my property to Hamilton.”
“Let’s not talk about it,” Lorinda pleaded nervously. “At the time you made the will, we decided it was very fair.”
“I thought so then, because you have substantial income in your own name. Hamilton, on the other hand, has nothing—scarcely a penny except his salary at the bank.”
“You were right in leaving money to him, Mother. I never objected.”