Page 88 (1/1)
The pronoun she used threw a chill on the heart of her son, but when she tottered to the door of his cell he sprang forith the low, appealing cry: "Mother!"
But the poor gentlewoman was so overcome that she sank down on a bench by the door, and, with her face buried in her hands, as if to shut out a vision that would blast her, she rocked back and forth in anguish, as she groaned: "O Egbert, Egbert! you have disgraced raced yourself beyond remedy O God! what have I done todisaster?"
With deep pain and solicitude Mrs Arnot watched the young ratedfell upon it The appeal that trembled in his voice had been er and hopeful expression, and even suggested the spirit of the little child when in soency it turns to its first and natural protector
But e caused by the mother's lamentable want of tact and self-control, for that sa a spirit which deep distress and crushing disaster had made almost childlike in its readiness to receive a mother's comfort once more, he suddenly becaed to undo by her kindness the evil which her friend was unwittingly causing, but could not come between mother and son She stooped down, however, and whispered: "Mrs Haldane, speak kindly to your boy He looked to you for syainst hi soood hoht to that hobert, Egbert! your sisters will have to live like nuns, for they can never even go out upon the street again; and to think that the finger of scorn should be pointed after you in the city where your father made our name so honorable!"
"It never shall be," said Haldane coldly "You have only to leavetime"
"Leave you, in prison!" exclaih Mrs Arnot's kindness, arrangements are made for your release I shall then take you to our miserable home as soon as possible"