But when he and his brother sent in their cards she, for the first time in her life, perceived that all she had done was useless.

She saw the whole meaning of the situation; for this estate had come to her through the failure of heirs male to her father, and it was the provision of his will that she and her heirs should take back his name--the name of Melcombe.
She knew well that these two sons had always retained their father's name; but when they sent it in to her, she instinctively perceived their meaning.

They were calling her attention to the fact, and she was sure now that they never meant to change it.
She had not behaved kindly or justly to her grandson's widow, for people had called little Peter her heir, and she had not contradicted them.

But she had never made a will; and she secretly hoped that at the last something would occur to prevent her doing so.
Everything was absolutely in her own power, to leave as she pleased; but a half superstitious feeling prompted her to wait.

She wished her eldest surviving son to inherit the estate; but sad reflection seemed to assure her that if it simply lapsed to him as heir-at-law, he would think that next thing to receiving it through a dispensation of Providence; and she was such an unhappy mother, that she had reason to suppose he might prefer that to a direct bequest from her.