But here was a concrete fact, lucidly stated, and poor Mrs.Hudson, for a moment, looked it in the face.

She repeated her son's words a third time with a gasping murmur, and then, suddenly, she burst into tears.

Roderick went to her, sat down beside her, put his arm round her, fixed his eyes coldly on the floor, and waited for her to weep herself out.

She leaned her head on his shoulder and sobbed broken-heartedly.

She said not a word, she made no attempt to scold; but the desolation of her tears was overwhelming.