登陆注册
4708600000200

第200章

Of course he could not but think much of the immense property which was now, for a short time, altogether in his own hands. His resolution was soon made to go at once to London and consult the best lawyer he could find--or the best dozen lawyers should such be necessary--as to the validity of Mary's claims. This must be done before he said a word to her or to any of the Gresham family; but it must be done instantly, so that all suspense might be at an end as soon as possible. He must, of course, remain with Lady Scatcherd till the funeral should be over; but when that office should be complete, he would start instantly for London.

In resolving to tell no one as to Mary's fortune till after he had fortified himself with legal warranty, he made one exception. He thought it rational that he should explain to Lady Scatcherd who was now the heir under her husband's will; and he was more inclined to do so, from feeling that the news would probably be gratifying to her. With this view, he had once or twice endeavoured to induce her to talk about the property, but she had been unwilling to do so. She seemed to dislike all allusions to it, and it was not until she had incidentally mentioned the fact that she would have to look for a home, that he was able to fix her to the subject. This was on the evening before the funeral; on the afternoon of which day he intended to proceed to London.

'It may probably be arranged that you may continue to live here,' said the doctor.

'I don't wish it at all,' said she, rather sharply. 'I don't wish to have any arrangements made. I would not be indebted to any of them for anything. Oh, dear! if money could make it all right, I should have enough of that.'

'Indebted to whom, Lady Scatcherd? Who do you think will be the owner of Boxall Hill?'

'Indeed, then, Dr Thorne, I don't much care: unless it be yourself, it won't be any friend of mine, or any one I shall care to make a friend of. It isn't so easy for an old woman like me to make new friends.'

'Well, it certainly won't belong to me.'

'I wish it did, with all my heart. But even then, I would not live here. I have had too many troubles here to wish to see more.'

'That shall be as you like, Lady Scatcherd; but you will be surprised to hear that the place will--at least I think it will--belong to a friend of yours: to one to whom you have been very kind.'

'And who is he, doctor? Won't it go to some of those Americans? I am sure I never did anything kind to them; though, indeed, I did love poor Mary Scatcherd. But that's years upon years ago, and she is dead, and gone now. Well, I begrudge nothing to Mary's children. As I have none of my own, it is right that they should have the money. It has not made me happy; I hope it may do them.'

'The property will, I think, go to Mary Scatcherd's eldest child. It is she whom you have known as Mary Thorne.'

'Doctor!' And then Lady Scatcherd, as she made the exclamation, put both her hands down to hold her chair, as though she feared the weight of her surprise would topple her off her seat.

'Yes; Mary Thorne--my Mary--to whom you have been so good, who loves you so well; she, I believe, will be Sir Roger's heiress. And it was so that Sir Roger intended on his deathbed, in the event of poor Louis's life being cut short. If this be so, will you be ashamed to stay here as the guest of Mary Thorne? She has not been ashamed to be your guest.'

But Lady Scatcherd was now too much interested in the general tenor of the news which she had heard to care much about the house which she was to inhabit in future. Mary Thorne, the heiress of Boxall Hill! Mary Thorne, the still living child of that poor creature who had so nearly died when they were all afflicted with their early grief! Well; there was consolation, there was comfort in this. There were but three people left in the world that she could love: her foster-child, Frank Gresham--Mary Thorne, and the doctor. If the money went to Mary, it would of course go to Frank, for she now knew that they loved each other; and if it went to them, would not the doctor have his share also; such share as he might want? Could she have governed the matter, she would have given all to Frank; and now it would be as well bestowed.

Yes; there was consolation in this. They both sat up more than half the night talking over it, and giving and receiving explanations. If only the council of lawyers would not be adverse! That was now the point of suspense.

The doctor, before he left her, bade her hold her peace, and say nothing of Mary's fortune to any one till her rights have been absolutely acknowledged. 'It will be nothing not to have it,' said the doctor; 'but it would be very bad to hear it was hers, and then to lose it.'

On the next morning, Dr Thorne deposited the remains of Sir Louis in the vault prepared for the family in the parish church. He laid the son where a few months ago he had laid the father,--and so the title of Scatcherd became extinct. Their race of honour had not been long.

After the funeral, the doctor hurried up to London, and there we will leave him.

同类推荐
  • 汉书

    汉书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 象台首末

    象台首末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 千字文

    千字文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 忍古楼词话

    忍古楼词话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西岩了慧禅师语录

    西岩了慧禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 洪荒之平头妖帝

    洪荒之平头妖帝

    九天之上,一尊伟岸的身影端坐于神殿之中,他手持万妖册,威严的宣告寰宇。“诸天万界众生之内,不在神、仙、魔、巫、鬼、人之属,凡有灵者,尽皆为妖,为妖者入我妖籍,受我传承,享我荣耀,天道鉴之。”
  • hell

    hell

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 凤在上 龙在下

    凤在上 龙在下

    五角场其实就是个五角形的转盘街,在城市的这个下只角地段,曾经是很闹忙的去处。沿街是一圈的商店、布店、服装店、浴室、照相馆、干洗店、饭店、药店、邮局……有那不熟悉的外地人,常在这一带转迷了。好不容易来趟上海,照张相吧。上海照相馆的服务态度之好,是全国出了名的。师傅说着好听的南方普通话,和蔼地摆布着你。照相用的布景也洋派,漂亮。“坐好啊,坐好,对,那位头再朝里歪一下,对,笑一笑……“咔嚓”,闪光灯一亮,妥了。而且上海师傅讲信用,你甩开双腿天南海北逛够了,回到家,上海寄来的照片早邮到了,在桌上等着你呢。
  • 生命需要绿色

    生命需要绿色

    绿色是生命的本色。生命需要绿色,地球需要绿色,让世界处处是绿色,已成了我们所向往的生活。地球是生命的摇篮,是我们人类的家园。我们的地球母亲只有穿着蓝白相间的衣服,才会美丽动人。可是,现在我们大家看到的却是南极上空的空洞,逐渐变黄变黑的江河湖海,一天又一天的灰蒙蒙的天空,堆积如山的垃圾,日渐频繁的沙尘暴……长此以往,我们的家还像家吗?我们人类还能生存吗?所有这些都给我们敲响了警钟,我们人类的生存与发展正面临着严重的威胁。为了我们的天更蓝、水更清,我们每个人都要从我做起,从点点滴滴做起,大力宣传环保,为保护生态环境作出努力。
  • 最佳强娶:总裁追妻令

    最佳强娶:总裁追妻令

    许念,二十岁那年,被家人抛弃,拒之门外,她在门外哭喊,最后晕倒在了暴雨之中。再次醒来是在陌生人男人的家里,这个男人收留她,给她工作,待她温柔。许念一心认为他是个好人,对他无话不说,然而就是这个好人,给了她一生都难以忘记的痛苦回忆。深夜,他压她在身下,用好听用性感的嗓音宣誓主权。他说:“你是我的,并且只能是我的。”许念泪水沾湿了枕头,她哭着求他别这样,然而,一切都是徒劳。他霸占她,囚困她,剥夺了她的自由。她不甘心,一直想办法逃走。一次失败,第二次成功。就在他们的结婚典礼上,那一刻,她真正明白什么表情叫做面如死灰……
  • 盛宠之嫡女医妃

    盛宠之嫡女医妃

    【爽文,双处,一生一世一双人,男主身心干净,互宠+腹黑,欢迎入坑。】前世,南宫玥是被自己坑死的。她出生名门,身份尊贵,得当世神医倾囊相授,一身医术冠绝天下。她倾尽一切,助他从一介皇子登上帝位,换来的却是一旨满门抄斩!她被囚冷宫,隐忍筹谋,最终亲手覆灭了他的天下。一朝大仇得报,她含笑而终,却未想,再睁眼,却回到了九岁那一年。嫡女重生,这一世,她绝不容任何人欺她、辱她、轻她、践她!年少溺亡的哥哥,疯癫早逝的母亲,这一世,她必要保他们一生幸福安泰。前世的继母,你不是喜欢勾引有妇之夫吗?那就给你找个断袖分桃的男人,让你勾引个够!前世的夫君,你不是为了皇位可以不择手段吗?这辈子你再怎么算计也只会与皇位无缘!亲爱的表妹,前世的夺夫灭族之痛,一刀一刀让你慢慢还回来!偏心的祖母,极品的亲戚,既然你们想斗,那就干脆斗个天翻地覆!原以为这一世,她会孤独终老,没想到,前世那个弑父杀弟,阴狠毒辣的“杀神”镇南王却悄然出现在了她的生命里。只是……怎么画风好像不太对,说好的冷血阴郁、心机深沉去哪儿了?—◆—小剧场:一道圣旨下,她成了他的世子妃。“以后本姑娘出门要跟从。”“是!”“本姑娘的命令要服从。”“是!”“本姑娘讲错要盲从。”“是!”“本姑娘花钱要舍得。”“是!”“还有,以后本姑娘生气要忍得。”“是!以后世子妃您让往上,吾绝不敢往下!”他羞答答地抛了一个媚眼,比女人还要娇媚,“那我们就说好了,以后,……?”她洗目,这真的是前世那个弑父杀弟的“杀神”吗?
  • 重生之首席宝贝

    重生之首席宝贝

    苍白的医院走廊上,到处都弥漫着药水的味道,韩薇薇低着头,看着又一个年轻的女孩从自己的面前走过,一滴鲜红的血液落在地上、接着又是一滴……地上练成了一条血线,她恐惧的看着那女孩的大腿早已被鲜血染红,身体也忍不住的颤抖起来。“韩薇薇!”护士站在门口喊道,“韩薇薇……”“在,在这里!”回答的不是韩薇薇,而是陪她来流产的男人钟引辉,男人扶着韩薇薇站起来,几乎是把她推到手术室的门口,“……
  • 五行魔武

    五行魔武

    女人是祸水,这话真对!白驰刚毕业,就让女友甩了,借酒浇愁稀里糊涂的穿越到陌生大陆!好在凭借着色相,无辜的眼神,乞丐的装扮,借宿到了美女家中!斗气和魔法一点不会的他,居然被安排成了护花保镖!真正的灾难这才铺天盖地的来了……最后竟落得逃亡的下场!奇遇连连,魔宠相伴,竟然他领悟武道真谛,漂亮的杀了个回马枪……
  • 青梅竹马

    青梅竹马

    在我的观念里,我和我家隔壁某人不是姐弟胜似姐弟,可是某人却不以为然,非要认为我是他的青梅竹马,我对此也很无奈,因此也发生了很多有趣的事情,就看我和他到底会碰撞出什么火花吧!切,我才不想碰撞出什么火花呢!我只是某人的隔壁家姐姐!
  • 广黄帝本行记

    广黄帝本行记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。