Did she utter the name
of her father?"
"Yes, sir."
"What was it?"
"A Mr. George Conway," replied Amanda, who seemed to feel that she had
gone too far to conceal any thing.
"And the reason for this marriage?" said Mohun, in a low tone; "did she
explain, or say any thing which explained to you, how such a union had
ever taken place?"
"Yes, sir. They said so many things to each other, that I came to know
all. The young lady was a daughter of a Mr. George Conway, and when she
was a girl, had fallen in love with some worthless young man, who had
persuaded her to elope with him and get married. He soon deserted her,
when she fell in with this Mr. Mortimer and married him."
"Did she know that he was her father's murderer?"
"No, sir--not until after their marriage, I gathered."
"Then," said Mohun, who had suppressed all indications of emotion, and
was listening coolly; "then it seems to me that she was wrong in taking
shame to herself--or claiming credit--for the marriage."
"Yes, sir," returned Amanda, "and he told her as much."
"So they had something like a quarrel?"
"Not exactly a quarrel, sir. He seemed to love her with all his
heart--more than she loved him. They went on talking, and laying plans
to make money in some way. I remember he said to her, 'You are sick,
and need every luxury--I would rather die than see you deprived of
them--I would cheat or rob to supply you every thing--and we must think
of some means, honest or dishonest, to get the money we want.
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