"Whatever you yourself think right, Coralie, you shall have."
I saw a strong disapproval in Lady Thesiger's face, and Coralie's quick
eyes, following mine, read the same.
"Ah!" she said, hastily, "Lady Thesiger does not approve of carte
blanche to ambitious cousins."
Lady Thesiger really restrained herself; she was tempted to speak--I saw
that--but refrained.
"The best plan," said Sir John, calmly, "would be for Mademoiselle
d'Aubergne to say what she herself wishes."
"I will tell you," she replied, "what I claim."
Then, as we looked up at her in wonder, she continued, with bland
calmness:
"I claim as my own and right, on the part of my infant son, the whole of
the estate and revenues of Crown Anstey. I claim, as widow of the late
Miles Trevelyan, Esq., my share of all due to me at his death."
A thunder-bolt falling in our midst would not have alarmed us as those
words did. Sir John looked sternly at her.
"In the name of heaven, what do you mean?"
"Just what I say, Sir John. I was the wife, and am now the widow, of the
late Miles Trevelyan, Esq."
"But that is monstrous!" he cried.
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