When she first heard the result of the trial she swooned away, and remained for some time nearly unconscious.

But returning consciousness brought with it no relief, and she lay sobbing on her pillow, till she became so weak, that Linda in her fright wrote up to her mother begging her to return at once.
Then, wretched as it made her to leave Gertrude in her trouble, Mrs.Woodward did return.
For a fortnight after this there was an unhappy household at Surbiton Cottage.

Linda's marriage was put off till the period of Alaric's sentence should be over, and till something should be settled as to his and Gertrude's future career.

It was now August, and they spoke of the event as one which perhaps might occur in the course of the following spring.

At this time, also, they were deprived for a while of the comfort of Norman's visits by his enforced absence at Normansgrove.