She had hoped to
learn more than she had to reveal, and that her strong resemblance to her
mother's picture would be sufficient to prove the relationship between
them; but now she began to fear that it would not.
"What proofs do I need?" she asked, in a voice that was not quite steady.
"The marriage certificate of the contracting parties, or some witness of
the ceremony, besides some reliable person who can identify you as their
child," was the business-like response.
"Then I can prove nothing," Mona said, in a weary tone, "for I have no
certificate, no letters, not even a scrap of writing penned by either my
father or my mother."
A peculiar expression swept over Mr. Corbin's face at this statement, and
Mona caught sight of it.
"What could it mean?" she asked herself, with a flash of anger that was
quite foreign to her amiable disposition. "Did the man imagine her to be
an impostor, or did he suspect that there might have been no legal bond
between her parents?"
This latter thought made her tingle to her fingertips, and aroused all
her proud spirit.
"I can at least prove that I am Walter Dinsmore's niece," she added,
lifting her head with a haughty air, while her thoughts turned to Mr.
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