Thus she saved herself, and one at least belonging to her, from open shame.
She received Catherine's telegram, and was made aware that Josephine Hart had come down to spy out the nakedness of the land.

She felt herself, however, in a position to defy Josephine, and she returned to the Manor fairly well pleased.
It was Loftus, for whom she had really sacrificed so much, who dealt her the final blow.

This idle scapegrace had got into fresh debt and difficulty.

Mrs.Bertram expostulated, she wrung her hands, she could almost have torn her hair.

The young man stood before her half-abashed, half sulky.
"Can you help me, mother?
That's the main point," was his reiterated cry.
Mrs.Bertram managed at last to convince him that she had not a farthing of ready money left.
"In that case," he replied, "nothing but ruin awaits me." His mother wept when he told her this.