"Yes, dear. Your father and I have arranged to bring her here."
A faint colour passed over Phyllis's fair pale face, and she said:
"Did Aunt Amy not leave her any money, mother?"
"No; I am sorry to say she did not leave her anything."
"She ought to have done so," said Phyllis.
"Your Aunt Amy was a very peculiar person, Phyllis, and nothing would induce her to make a will. She put off the task too long, and died without fulfilling it."
"Could those who have got her money now not make it all right?" said Phyllis. "Could they not settle some money on her?"
"That would be a difficult matter to arrange, dear. Almost all Mrs. Rushton's property has gone to her husband's brother, who is not a very generous man, I fear, and the rest, which returns to your father, is in trust for his children. He does not feel himself called upon to deprive you of what is lawfully yours in order to give a fortune to a foundling child."
"I would rather give her some of my money than have her here," said Phyllis bluntly.
"You must get over that feeling, Phyllis. It is perhaps a little trial to us all to have a stranger among us, but we will endeavour to be kind, and all will be for the best."