As she read, a spot of red glowed in each pallid check, and she bit her lips in annoyance.
"I don't understand it," she said slowly.
Ben did not feel called upon to explain what was perfectly intelligible.

He saw that Mrs.Hill didn't want to understand it.
"What is it, ma ?" asked Conrad, his curiosity aroused.
"You can read it for yourself, Conrad," returned his mother.
"Is he coming to live here ?" ejaculated Conrad, astonished, indicating Ben with a jerk of his finger.
"If this letter is genuine," said Mrs.Hill, with at significant emphasis on the last word.
"If it is not, Mrs.Hamilton will be sure to tell you so," said Ben, provoked.
"Come out, Conrad; I want to speak to you," said his mother.
Without ceremony, they left Ben in the parlor alone, and withdrew to another part of the house, where they held a conference.
"What does it all mean, ma ?" asked Conrad.
"It means that your prospects are threatened, my poor boy.

Cousin Hamilton, who is very eccentric, has taken a fancy to this boy, and she is going to confer favors upon him at your expense.

It is too bad!" "I'd like to break his head!" said Conrad, scowling.
"It won't do, Conrad, to fight him openly.

We must do what we can in an underhand way to undermine him with Cousin Hamilton.