From all that she could hear, she thought it likely that Felix would carry off the great prize; and then,-- should he do that,--what a blessed son would he have been to her! How constantly in her triumph would she be able to forget all his vices, his debts, his gambling, his late hours, and his cruel treatment of herself! As she thought of it the bliss seemed to be too great for the possibility of realisation.

She was taught to understand that L10,000 a year, to begin with, would be the least of it; and that the ultimate wealth might probably be such as to make Sir Felix Carbury the richest commoner in England.

In her very heart of hearts she worshipped wealth, but desired it for him rather than for herself.

Then her mind ran away to baronies and earldoms, and she was lost in the coming glories of the boy whose faults had already nearly engulfed her in his own ruin.
And she had another ground for elation, which comforted her much, though elation from such a cause was altogether absurd.

She had discovered that her son had become a Director of the South Central Pacific and Mexican Railway Company.