'I did not expect such a command as that,' said Ethelberta. 'I have been
obedient for four years, and would continue so--but I cannot suppress the
poems. They are not mine now to suppress.'

'You must get them into your hands. Money will do it, I suppose?'

'Yes, I suppose it would--a thousand pounds.'

'Very well; the money shall be forthcoming,' said Lady Petherwin, after a
pause. 'You had better sit down and write about it at once.'

'I cannot do it,' said Ethelberta; 'and I will not. I don't wish them to
be suppressed. I am not ashamed of them; there is nothing to be ashamed
of in them; and I shall not take any steps in the matter.'

'Then you are an ungrateful woman, and wanting in natural affection for
the dead! Considering your birth--'

'That's an intolerable--'

Lady Petherwin crashed out of the room in a wind of indignation, and went
upstairs and heard no more. Adjoining her chamber was a smaller one
called her study, and, on reaching this, she unlocked a cabinet, took out
a small deed-box, removed from it a folded packet, unfolded it, crumpled
it up, and turning round suddenly flung it into the fire. Then she stood
and beheld it eaten away word after word by the flames, 'Testament'--'all
that freehold'--'heirs and assigns' appearing occasionally for a moment
only to disappear for ever. Nearly half the document had turned into a
glossy black when the lady clasped her hands.