She looked up for a moment, but with hard tearless eyes and set lips, and only to put away from her the hand that had been softly laid on her shoulder.
Mrs.Costello drew back; she returned to her chair, and sat down to wait, but the long deep sigh which unconsciously escaped her, as she did so, reached Lucia's heart.

A strong impulse of love and pity seemed to break through all her misery; she felt that, at least, she did not suffer alone, and with a quick self-reproach she threw herself at her mother's feet, and encircled her waist with her arms.

For a moment neither spoke.

They held each other fast, and one, at least, thanked God silently that the most bitter pang was averted, since they could still so cling to each other.
But after a while, Mrs.Costello said, "I have much to tell you, my child.

Can you bear to hear it now ?" "Yes, mother.