The admiral's ward Author:Alexander Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: "No; why should I mind what a stranger saya ?" cried Laura, a little wondering. Kneeling at her cousin's feet, and spreading the letter on her lap, while .she... more » took one of her hands in hers, Winnie read as follows: " My Dear Winifred,—I should have written to you on your father's death had you announced it yourself, but it seemed to me rather negligent of you to employ your cousin to convey the sad intelligence. I was, of course, greatly shocked and surprised, for though he often talked of his health, we none of us believed there was much the matter with him. However, you are, I am sure, too well trained to repine at the divine will; and knowing that your dear father has made a good exchange, you must not give way to grief, which will only unfit you for your work here below. Both Mr. Morgan and myself are deeply grieved to hear, through your good friend Admiral Desbarres, that there seems to be no provision for you. It is really too dreadful. If all the money your father expended on your cousin had been invested, you might now have a nice little sum to fall back upon. I never could understand how your mother permitted him to adopt a niece—the child, too, of a marriage to which he must have been opposed for every reason. However, that cannot be helped now, and I am sure you must acknowledge that you really have no claim on Mr. Morgan. As to myself, I had no fortune of my own, and of course I cannot take my husband's money to give to my relatives; but while you are looking about you, I shall be very happy to have you with us for a few months, and I dare say you will get on very well with my girls. I write also to Admiral Desbarres, inclosing this, and you will, of course, be guided by his advice. If you accept my invitation, let me know at once when we shall see you. I shall be...« less