“The situation has changed now,” Mrs. Rhett continued. “My husband may never return. If I should die suddenly, the estate would be left to him, but he might not appear to claim it. To my knowledge, he has no relatives. It could all become an awkward legal muddle.”
“You certainly are borrowing trouble, Mother! Father will be found, and everything will be the same as before.”
“I wish I could think so, Lorinda.”
“Forget about the will.”
Mrs. Rhett shook her head. “I think I shall change it. And soon. However, at this moment, I don’t know how I wish to dispose of some of my property. Nearly everything I own is tied up in real estate.”
The woman arose, and remarking that she had a severe headache, started into the house.
“I’ll lie down for a little while,” she murmured. “I feel so weak and tired.”
Lorinda waited until her mother was well beyond hearing. Then she turned to Penny with stricken eyes.
“You heard what she said! She must have learned about that hideous doll from Celeste!”
“But how did Celeste know of it? You told her?”