"What is your desire ?" she repeated.
"To see your mother," Basterga answered.

"We have no business with you--at present," he added, after a perceptible pause, and with a slight emphasis.
She caught her breath.

"You want to see my mother ?" she faltered.
"I spoke plainly," Basterga replied with sternness.

"That was what I said." "What do you want with her ?" "That is our affair." Pale to the lips, she hesitated.

Yet, after all, why should they not go up and see her mother?
Things were not to-day as they had been yesterday: or she had done in vain that which she had done, had sinned in vain if she had sinned.