Katherine read it through a second time, and then very deliberately folded it up.  “It shall not stand in my way,” she murmured, her lips closing firmly, and she sat for a few minutes holding it tight in her hand, as she thought steadily what she should do.  “Had my uncle lived a few hours more, this would have been destroyed or nullified.  I will carry out his intentions.  I wonder what is the legal penalty for the crime or felony I am going to commit?  At all events I shall risk it.  The only punishment I fear is my mother’s condemnation.  She must never know.  It is a huge theft, whether the man I rob is rich or poor.  I hope he is very rich.  I know I am doing a great wrong; that if others acted as I am acting there would be small security for property—­perhaps for life—­but I’ll do it.  Shall I ever be able to hold up my head and look honest folk in the face!  I will try.  If I commit this robbery I must not falter nor repent.  I must be consistently, boldly false, and I must get done with it before my dearest mother comes.  How grieved and disappointed she would be if she knew!  She believes so firmly in my truthfulness.  Well, I have been true, and I will be, save in this.  Here I will lie by silence.  Where shall I hide it? for I will not destroy it—­not yet at least.  No elaborate concealment is necessary.”

She rose up and took some thin brown paper—­such as is used in shops to wrap up lace and ribbons—­and folded the will in it neatly, tying it up with twine, and writing on it, “old MSS., to be destroyed.”  Then she laid it in the bottom of her box.  “If my mother sees it, the idea of old MS. will certainly deter her from looking at it.”  She put back the things she had taken out and closed the box; then she stood for a moment of thought.  What would the result be?  Who could tell?  Some other unknown Liddells might start up to share the inheritance.  Well, she would not mind that much; so long as she could secure some years of modest competence to her mother, some help for her little nephews, she would be content.

Now that she had accomplished what an hour ago was a scarcely entertained idea, she felt wonderfully calm, but curious as to how things would turn out, with the sort of curiosity she might have felt with regard to the action of another.

She did not want to be still any more, however; she went to and fro in her room, dusting it and putting it in order; she rearranged her own hair and dress, and then she went to the window to watch for her mother.  Time had gone swiftly while her thoughts had been so intensely occupied, and to her great delight she soon saw a cab drive up, from which Mrs. Liddell descended.

Katherine flew to receive her, and in the joy of feeling her mother once more by her side she temporarily forgot the sense of a desperate deed which had oppressed her.

Mrs. Liddell had been much shocked by the sudden death of her brother-in-law, but her chief anxiety was to fly to Katie, to shorten the terrible hours of loneliness in the house of mourning.