All she gave
to you, she gave for the sake of that love. It never altered while she
lived; and it won't alter, I'm sure, as long as _you_ live. How can you
have a better right, sir, to keep what you have got than that?"
Mr. Wilding's immovable honesty saw the fallacy in his housekeeper's
point of view at a glance.
"You don't understand me," he said. "It's _because_ I loved her that I
feel it a duty--a sacred duty--to do justice to her son. If he is a
living man, I must find him: for my own sake, as well as for his. I
shall break down under this dreadful trial, unless I employ
myself--actively, instantly employ myself--in doing what my conscience
tells me ought to be done. I must speak to my lawyer; I must set my
lawyer at work before I sleep to-night." He approached a tube in the
wall of the room, and called down through it to the office below. "Leave
me for a little, Mrs. Goldstraw," he resumed; "I shall be more composed,
I shall be better able to speak to you later in the day. We shall get on
well--I hope we shall get on well together--in spite of what has
happened. It isn't your fault; I know it isn't your fault. There!
there! shake hands; and--and do the best you can in the house--I can't
talk about it now."
The door opened as Mrs. Goldstraw advanced towards it; and Mr. Jarvis
appeared.
"Send for Mr. Bintrey," said the wine-merchant. "Say I want to see him
directly."
The clerk unconsciously suspended the execution of the order, by
announcing "Mr.
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