She knew that one word of tenderness would bring her to the ground.
'Mamma, mamma!' she almost shrieked, and throwing herself into her mother's arms wept convulsively.

Mrs.Woodward wanted no more words to tell her that Alaric had been guilty.
'But, Gertrude, how much is it ?' whispered the mother, as, after a few moments of passionate grief, they sat holding each other's hands on the sofa.

'How much money is wanting?
Can we not make it up?
If it be all paid before the day of trial, will not that do?
will not that prevent it ?' Gertrude could not say.

She knew that L10,000 had been abstracted.

Mrs.Woodward groaned as she heard the sum named.