CHAPTER XV.
The Robbery in Willesden Church.
During the whole of the next day and night, the poor widow hovered like a ghost about the precincts of the debtors' garrison,--for admission (by the Master's express orders,) was denied her.

She could learn nothing of her son, and only obtained one solitary piece of information, which added to, rather than alleviated her misery,--namely, that Jonathan Wild had paid a secret visit to the Cross Shovels.

At one time, she determined to go to Wych Street, and ask Mr.Wood's advice and assistance, but the thought of the reception she was likely to meet with from his wife deterred her from executing this resolution.

Many other expedients occurred to her; but after making several ineffectual attempts to get into the Mint unobserved, they were all abandoned.
At length, about an hour before dawn on the second day--Sunday--having spent the early part of the night in watching at the gates of the robbers' sanctuary, and being almost exhausted from want of rest, she set out homewards.

It was a long walk she had to undertake, even if she had endured no previous fatigue, but feeble as she was, it was almost more than she could accomplish.