"I will tell you the worst, Kate—- a strange claim is set up—by one I never heard of—to the whole of the property we now enjoy!"
Miss Aubrey started, and the slight color that remained faded entirely from her cheek. Both were silent for very nearly a minute.
"But is it a true claim, Charles?" she inquired, faintly.
"That remains to be proved. I will, however, disguise nothing from you—I have woful apprehensions"——
"Do you mean to say that Yatton is not ours?" inquired Miss Aubrey, catching her breath.
"So, alas! my dearest Kate, it is said!"
Miss Aubrey looked bewildered, and pressed her hand to her forehead.
"How shocking!—shocking!—shocking!" she gasped—"What is to become of mamma?"
"God Almighty will not desert her in her old age. He will desert none of us, if we only trust in him," said her brother.
Miss Aubrey remained gazing at him intently, and continued perfectly motionless.