'What would you know about that?' Kate asked. 'At least Mary and I know who our ancestors were!'
It felt as if somebody had slapped me across the face. 'It's hardly my fault that I'm an orphan,' I immediately became defensive.
'Are you an orphan?' Kate altered the direction of her attack from Mary to me. 'We don't know that, and neither do you. You were left at the door of an orphanage, or so you told us.'
'And what do you mean by that?' I felt my temper rise and rose to Kate's challenge.
'I mean maybe your mother had one look at your dismal face and decided she did not want you.'
I stepped forward, ready to do battle.
'Enough!' Lorna pushed me back. 'No more squabbling.'
I was not yet prepared to withdraw. 'You mind your mouth, Kate,' I glared at her with years of resentment coming
