Then
Katherine said, in a low tone, "Mr. Newton evidently thinks he--my
uncle--has made a very unjust will, and fears he will never change it."
"Most probably he will not; but he ought not to cut off his natural
heirs."
"Would Cecil and Charlie be his natural heirs?"
"I suppose so, and something would come to you too; but I do not
understand these matters. It is dreadful how mean and mercenary this
terrible need for money makes one."
"You want it very much, mother? There is trouble in your voice; tell me
what it is."
"There is no special pressure, dear, just now; but unless I am more
successful with my pen I greatly fear I shall get into debt before I can
liberate myself from that house. Yet if I do, what will become of Ada
and the boys?" She paused to cough.
Katherine was silent; the tone of her mother's voice told more than her
words. "But," resumed Mrs. Liddell, "all is not black. The _Dalston
Weekly_ has taken my short story, and given me ten pounds for it.
However, you must take the bad with the good; my poor three-decker has
come back on my hands."
Katherine uttered a low exclamation. "I did hope they would have taken
it! and what miserable pay for that bright, pretty story! Mother, I
cannot believe that the novel will fail.
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