`Yes. What interest have you in me, or in her? How do you come to know anything about my daughter?'

`In this way. I met her on the night when she escaped from the Asylum, and I assisted her in reaching a place of safety.'

`You did very wrong.'

`I am sorry to hear her mother say so.'

`Her mother does say so. How do you know she is dead?'

`I am not at liberty to say how I know it-but I do know it.'

`Are you at liberty to say how you found out my address?'

`Certainly. I got your address from Mrs Clements.'

`Mrs Clements is a foolish woman. Did she tell you to come here?'

`She did not.'

`Then, I ask you again, why did you come?'

As she was determined to have her answer, I gave it to her in the plainest possible form.

`I came,' I said, `because I thought Anne Catherick's mother might have some natural interest in knowing whether she was alive or dead.'

`Just so,' said Mrs Catherick, with additional self-possession. `Had you no other motive?'

I hesitated. The right answer to that question was not easy to find at a moment's notice.

`If you have no other motive,' she went on, deliberately taking off her slate-coloured mittens, and rolling them up, `I have only to thank you for your visit, and to say that I will not detain you here any longer. Your information would be more satisfactory if you were willing to explain how you became possessed of it. However, it justifies me, I suppose, in going into mourning. There is not much alteration necessary in my dress, as you see. When I have changed my mittens, I shall be all in black.'

She searched in the pocket of her gown, drew out a pair of black lace mittens, put them on with the stoniest and steadiest composure, and then quietly crossed her hands in her lap.

`I wish you good morning,' she said.

The cool contempt of her manner irritated me into directly avowing that the purpose of my visit had not been answered yet.

`I have another motive in coming here,' I said.

`Ah! I thought so,' remarked Mrs Catherick.

`Your daughter's death --'

`What did she die of?'

`Of disease of the heart.'

`Yes. Go on.'