“We shall see, my lord!” the maddened girl repeated, vindictively; but, without giving her time to say more, his lordship passed on to Star’s side, and drawing her hand within his arm, led her away to her carriage.
The day came at last which was to decide Mrs. Richards’ claim to the Thornton estates, and, according to appointment, she repaired to the office of Compton & Bailey, in the highest of spirits, dressed in the most magnificent style, and accompanied by Josephine, clad with equal richness, and her husband.
“Well, Mr. Compton, my probation is ended at last,” she said, gayly, to that gentleman, as she entered, and greeted him with her most gracious manner.
“Ahem! I suppose we may say that it is,” he returned, in a strangely embarrassed way.
“Well, then, I presume there is no need of further delay, and we can take possession of the late Sir Charles’ property as soon as we choose,” she remarked, too deeply engaged with thoughts regarding her own brilliant future to notice his manner.
“Ahem!” the lawyer repeated, an uneasy expression on his face; “I did expect that I could tell you to-day everything was all right and you could go down to Halowell Park as soon as you liked; but——”
“But what?” Mrs. Richards demanded, with some show of impatience. “It appears to me that you are somewhat mysterious this morning, when heretofore you have acknowledged my relationship to Sir Charles Thornton to be proved beyond a doubt.”
“Yes, madam, you have clearly proved, it cannot be contested, that you were a relative of the late baronet’s; but—I am sorry—it will be a great disappointment to you, doubtless, to learn at this late day that another party has put in a claim for the estate, as being the nearest of kin.”
The lawyer heaved a sigh of relief when he had stumbled through this piece of ill-news.