She is an unnatural
mother."
"Gammon!" said Reginald. "You might as well say a fox is the son of a
gander. Come now; I am not going to let you cut my throat with your
tongue. Sign at once, or else come to her this moment and tell her so."
"That I will," said Mary Meyrick, "and give her my mind."
This doughty resolution was a little shaken when she cast eyes upon
Lady Bassett, and saw how wan and worn she looked.
She moderated her violence, and said, sullenly, "Sorry to gainsay
_you,_ my lady, and you so ill, but this is a paper I never can sign.
It would rob him of Huntercombe. I'd sooner cut my hand off at the
wrist."
"Nonsense, Mary!" said Lady Bassett, contemptuously.
She then proceeded to reason with her, but it was no use. Mary would
not listen to reason, and defied her at last in a loud voice.
"Very well," said Lady Bassett. "Then since you will not do it my way,
it shall be done another way. I shall put my confession in Sir
Charles's hands, and insist on his dismissing him from the house, and
you from your farm. It will kill me, and the money I intended for
Reginald I shall leave to Compton."
"These are idle words, my lady. You daren't."
"I dare anything when once I make up my mind to die."
She rang the bell.
Mary Meyrick affected contempt.
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