It will come in for four or five years more, and
it will be enough to pay Aunt Lydia for taking care on you both. No,
Cecile, I did not work for myself, nor for you and Maurice--I worked
for Lovedy. All that beautiful church embroidery as I sat up so late
at night over, the money I got for it was for my girl; every lily I
worked, and every passion-flower, and every leaf, took a little drop
of my heart's blood, I think; but 'twas done for her. Now, Cecile,
put yer hand under my pillow--there's a purse there."
Cecile drew out an old, worn Russia-leather purse.
"Lovedy 'ud recognize that purse," said her mother, "it belonged to
her own father. She and I always kept our little earnings in it, in
the old happy days. Now open the purse, Cecile; you must know what is
inside it."
Cecile pressed the spring and took out a little bundle of notes.
"There, child, you open them--see, there are four notes--four Bank
of England notes for ten pounds each--that's forty pounds--forty
pounds as her mother earned for my girl. You give her those notes in
the old purse, Cecile. You give them into her own hands, and you say,
'Your mother sent you those. Your mother is dead, but she broke her
heart for you, she never forgot your voice when you said for pity's
sake, and she asks you now for pity's sake to forgive her.' That's
the message as you has to take to Lovedy, Cecile."
"Yes, stepmother, I'll take her that message--very faithful; very,
very faithful, stepmother.
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