If the child were alive he
wanted to see her. I made inquiries and found that the girl was
living with her father in very poor circumstances in the City of New
York. We sent sufficient funds for the journey, together with a
request to the father to allow her to visit Mr. Kingsnorth in
England. The father consented. However, before the young girl sailed
Mr. Kingsnorth died."
"Oh!" cried Alaric, who had been listening intently. "Died, eh? That
was too bad. Died before seeing her. Did you let her sail, Mr.
Hawkes?"
"Yes. We thought it best to bring her over here and acquaint her
with the sad news after her arrival. Had she known before sailing
she might not have taken the journey."
"But what was the use of bringing her over when Mr. Kingsnorth was
dead?" asked Alaric.
"For this reason," replied Hawkes: "Realising that he might never
see her, Mr. Kingsnorth made the most remarkable provision for her
in his will."
"Provided for HER and not for--?" began Mrs. Chichester.
"Here is the provision," continued Mr. Hawkes, again reading from
the will: "'I hereby direct that the sum of one thousand pounds a
year be paid to any respectable well-connected woman of breeding and
family, who will undertake the education and up-bringing of my
niece, Margaret O'Connell, in accordance with the dignity and
tradition of the Kingsnorths'--"
"He remembers a niece he never saw and his own sister--" and Mrs.
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