She hated
Magdalen with a tenfold hatred from that time.
"I have no doubt, sir," she resumed, after a momentary silence, "that
Mrs. Noel gave you excellent reasons why the provision for her at your
death should be no more, and no less, than eighty thousand pounds. And,
on the other hand, I am equally sure that you, in your innocence of all
suspicion, found those reasons conclusive at the time. That time has now
gone by. Your eyes are opened, sir; and you will not fail to remark (as
I remark) that the Combe-Raven property happens to reach the same sum
exactly, as the legacy which your wife's own instructions directed you
to leave her. If you are still in any doubt of the motive for which she
married you, look in your own will--and there the motive is!"
He raised his head from his hands, and became closely attentive to what
she was saying to him, for the first time since they had faced each
other at the table. The Combe-Raven property had never been classed
by itself in his estimation. It had come to him merged in his father's
other possessions, at his father's death. The discovery which had now
opened before him was one to which his ordinary habits of thought, as
well as his innocence of suspicion, had hitherto closed his eyes.
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