You are Hugh Mainwaring's son and I was his wife.

I will yet compel people to recognize us as such; but you must--" "Tell me one thing," he demanded, interrupting her.

"If I was Hugh Mainwaring's son, why have I not borne his name?
Why did he not recognize me as such?
I'll claim no man for my father who would not acknowledge me as his son." Then, before she could reply, he added, "If you were the wife of Hugh Mainwaring, what was the meaning of your proposal of marriage to him less than three months ago ?" She grew deathly pale; but he, seeming to enjoy the situation, repeated, sneeringly, "Less than three months ago, the night on which he gave you the necklace which you commissioned me to sell the other day! You urged your suit with a vengeance, too, I remember, for you threatened to ruin him if he did not come to your terms.
"I only laughed then, for I thought 'twas another scheme of yours to get a tighter hold on the old man's purse-strings.

It's nothing to me what your object was, but in view of the fact that I happened to overhear that little episode, it might be just as well not to try to tell me that I am Hugh Mainwaring's son.

You will naturally see that I am not likely to be interested in helping carry out that little farce!" Still controlling herself by a tremendous will power, the wretched woman made one more desperate effort.