"You have been looking worried for the last few days."
"I have a few troubles," sighed the widow--"troubles connected
with the estate of my late brother. The lawyers are very
disagreeable and make all sorts of difficulties to swell their
costs. Then, strangely enough, I am beginning to feel my
brother's death more than I thought I should have done. You see
that I am in mourning, dear. After what you said the other day I
felt that it was wrong for me not to wear mourning. Of course my
poor brother and I were almost strangers. All the same, as he
has left me money and was my only relative, I think it right to
show some grief. I am a lonely woman, my dear."
"When my father comes back you will no longer be lonely," said
Lucy.
"I hope not. I feel that I want a man to look after me. I told
you that I desired to marry the Professor for his possible title
and in order to form a salon and have some amusement and power.
But also I want a companion for my old age. There is no
denying," added Mrs. Jasher with another sigh, "that I am growing
old in spite of all the care I take. I am grateful for your
friendship, dear. At one time I thought that you did not like
me."
"Oh, I think we get on very well together," said Lucy somewhat
evasively, for she did not want to say that she would make the
widow an intimate friend, "and, as you know, I am quite pleased
that you should marry my step-father.
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