She could not be longer blind to the sort of feeling which her child evinced for this young man; she could not think that these passionate bursts of overpowering sorrow were the result of mere childish friendship; she could not but see that her Katie's bosom now held a woman's heart, and that that heart was no longer her own.
And then Mrs.Woodward reflected of what nature, of what sort, was this man whom she had allowed to associate with her darling, almost as a brother does with his sister; whom she had warmed in her bosom till he had found an opportunity of inflicting this deadly wound.

With terrible bitterness she upbraided herself as she sat down and bade Mrs.Richards go on with her tale.

She knew that nothing which could now be said would add to Katie's anguish.
Mrs.Richards' story was soon told.

It simply amounted to this--that 'Mister Charley,' as she always called him, had been arrested for debt at the suit of a tailor, and that she had learnt the circumstances from the fact of the prisoner having sent for his brushes.
'And so I thought the best thing was to come and tell Mr.
Norman,' said Mrs.Richards, concluding her speech.
Nothing could be done till Norman came in.

Linda went out with Mrs.Richards to get some refreshment in the dining-room, and Mrs.Woodward sat with her arm round Katie's neck on the sofa, comforting her with kisses and little caressing touches, but saying nothing.