A sudden nervousness overcame me, and I was obliged to sit down.
"You knew Mary Mallinson, sir ?" I asked, as quietly as I could.
"I am her brother." I clasped my hands and hid my face in despair.

Oh, the bitterness of heart with which I heard him say those simple words! "You were very kind to her," said the calm, tearless man.

"In her name and for her sake, I thank you." "Oh, sir," I said, "why did you never write to her when you were in foreign parts ?" "I wrote often," he answered; "but each of my letters contained a remittance of money.

Did Mary tell you she had a stepmother?
If she did, you may guess why none of my letters were allowed to reach her.

I now know that this woman robbed my sister.