Be certain," he continued, walking to the door, "that you do not breathe a word about this until I have seen your Mistress and learned the reason of her imprisonment." On returning to the parlor, where Harry and Emma were seated, Dr.
Humphries called him aside and related what he had heard from Elsy.
The young man listened attentively, and was very much shocked to hear of Mrs.Wentworth's being imprisoned for theft.

He knew that Alfred was the soul of honor, and he could not conceive that the wife of his friend would be guilty of such an offense.
"It is impossible to believe such a thing," he said, after Dr.
Humphries had concluded, "I cannot believe that the wife of such a man as Alfred Wentworth would commit an offense of such a nature; it must be some one else, and not Mrs.Wentworth." "That we can find out this evening," observed the Doctor.

"Let us first call at the cabin of my old slave and find out whether the child in her keeping is one of Mrs.Wentworth's children." "How will we be able to discover," asked Harry.

"It appears by your account that the boy is a mere infant, and he could hardly be expected to give an account of himself or his parents." "I have removed any difficulty of that nature," replied Dr.Humphries, "Elsy will accompany us to the cabin, and she will easily recognize the child if he is the son of your friend." "You are right," Harry remarked; and then continued, "I trust he may not be, for Alfred would almost go crazy at the knowledge that his wife was the inmate of a prison on the charge of robbery." "I hope so myself, for the sake of your friend," said Doctor Humphries, "Mr.Wentworth appears to be quite a gentleman, and I should greatly regret his finding his wife in such an unfortunate position as the woman in prison is represented to be." "I know the spirit of the man," remarked Harry, "he is sensitive to dishonor, no matter in what form or shape it may come, and the knowledge that his wife was charged with robbery would be a fearful blow to his pride, stern and unyielding as it is." "If it is his wife, and she has committed a theft, I pity her, indeed; for I am sure if she is the lady her husband represents, nothing but the most dire necessity could have induced her to descend to crime." "Ah, sir," replied Harry, "Heaven only knows if it is not through want.

Alfred Wentworth feared that his wife was living in penury, for he knew that she was without adequate means.