ther!"

"Well, the woman asserts that the infant lived for a few hours, and
brings the records to prove it, and claims that _she_ is Mr. Dinsmore's
only legitimate heir, through her child," Mr. Graves explained.

"And is she?--is that true?" Mona asked.

"Yes, the court will recognize her claim--to all appearance, it is
indisputable; and now I can understand what puzzled and troubled me when
Mr. Dinsmore was so helplessly ill," Mr. Graves said, reflectively. "You
doubtless remember how distressed he was when he tried to make me
understand something in connection with his will."

"Yes," said Mona with streaming eyes. "Oh, poor Uncle Walter!"

"Doubtless he knew that his wife was still living," Mr. Graves resumed,
"and that she would be likely to claim his property. He wanted _you_ to
have it--that I know--and he must have suffered untold anguish because he
could not make me understand that he wanted to have me insert something
in his will, which would provide against this woman's demands. Even if he
had been able to sign the document which I drew up, she could have broken
it, because she was not mentioned and remembered in it, and he knew this,
of course."

"Then she will have all--I am not to have anything?" said Mona
inquiringly, but without being able to realize, in the least, what
such utter destitution meant.

"My poor child, she utterly refuses to release a dollar of your uncle's
money to you. I have fought hard for you, Mona, for I could not bear to
come to you with this wretched story; but she is inexorable. She seems,
for some reason, to entertain a special spite--even hatred--against you,
and asserts, through her counsel--_I_ have not had the honor of meeting
this peculiar specimen of womanhood--that you shall either work or beg
for your bread; you shall have _nothing_ of what legally belongs to her."

"Then I am absolutely penniless!" said Mona, musingly. "I wonder if I can
make myself understand what that means! I have always had everything that
I wanted. I never asked for anything that Uncle Walter did not give me if
he could obtain it. I have had more money than I wanted to spend, and so
I have given a great deal away. It will seem _very_ strange to have an
empty purse. I wonder where I shall get my clothes, when what I have are
worn out. I wonder how I am to get what I shall need to _eat_--does it
cost very much to feed one person? Why, Mr. Graves!" putting her hand to
her head in a half-dazed way.