A sign from Fulk stopped me, as I was going to scream at this.

“Remember,” he said, “your identity has yet to be proved.”

“Your brother there must needs witness.  He has done so.”

“What do you witness to, Bertram?” asked Fulk.

“I do not know; I cannot understand,” said Bertram.  “I saw this person in a farm in Lower Canada, and there was an old lady who seemed to have known my father, and was very much amazed to find he was not killed in 1814.  I did not hear her name, nor know whose mother she was, nor anything about her, nor what this dreadful business means.”

“At any rate,” said Fulk to her, “your claim to remain in the house must depend on the legal proof of the fact.  My father’s first marriage is undoubted, but absolute legal certainty that you are the child of that marriage alone can entitle you to take rank as his daughter; and, therefore, I am not compelled to admit your claim to remain here, though if you will refrain from renewing this discussion till after the funeral, I will not ask you to leave the house.”

“I do not recognize your right to ask or not to ask,” she said, undauntedly.

“I am either Lord Trevorsham’s rightful heir—­and it is not yet shown that I am not—­or else I am the guardian he appointed for his son.  I know this to be so, and Mr. Eagles, who will soon be here, will show it to you in the will if you wish it.  Therefore, until the decision is made, when, if it goes against me, the child will no doubt be made a ward in Chancery, I am the person responsible for him and his property.”

“I have no doubt you will take advantage of me and of every quibble against me;” and there at last she began to break down; “but if there is justice in heaven or earth my child shall have it, though you and all were leagued against him.”

And there she began to sob.  And those brothers of mine, they actually grew compassionate; they ran after wine; they called us to bring salts, and help her.  Emily shuddered, and put her hands behind her; but Jaquetta actually ran up to the woman, and coaxed her and comforted her, when I had rather have coaxed a tigress.

But I had to go to the table and pour out tea and give it to her with all the rest.  I don’t know how we got through that breakfast.  But we did, and then I made the housekeeper put her into the very best rooms.  Anything if she would only stay there out of the way.

When I came back, I found Fulk explaining why he had spoken at once, and he said he felt that she would have no scruples about taking the initiative, and that everyone would be having surmises.

Poor Bertram was even more cut up than we were.  It came more suddenly, and he felt as if it was all his doing.  He had no hope, and he took all ours away.  There had been something in the old woman that impressed him as genuine, and he had no doubt that she had known and loved our father.  Nay, no one could suspect Hester of not believing in her own story; the only question was whether the links of evidence could be substantiated.