ion
to be true and loyal to that love and to him. Instead, from
beginning to end, you have been false to him, false to his memory,
false to your own wifehood and motherhood, false to yourself! I
have not come here to reproach you, however. I will only say that
I do not believe the capacity--the capability even--of love exists,
or has ever existed, within you. But," he continued, in gentler
tones, "the capacity for suffering does exist, and I can see without
any simulation on your part that you have suffered."

Before the look of pity which now for the first time softened the
stern features, she broke down, and genuine tears coursed down her
pallid cheeks as she cried, "Suffered! what have I not suffered!
I am homeless, penniless, degraded, an outcast! There is no hope,
no help for me unless you will help me. I know what you must think
of me, how even you, my son, must despise me, but as a drowning man
catches at a straw, I sent for you, hoping that you would in mercy
pity me and help me."

"Do you wish me to help you pecuniarily? I will willingly do that."

"Pecuniarily!" she exclaimed, almost in scorn. "Cannot you
understand what I need most? It is pity, sympathy, love! I want
the love and support of my first-born son, and I am willing to beg
for it," and, rising from her chair, she threw herself upon her
knees beside him, "only be my son, forget the past and let me be to
you, as I am, your mother! No, let me be!" she exclaimed, as he
would have raised her from her kneeling posture. "I have no son
but you, for Walter, like his father, has deserted me, with taunts
and sneers. I can help you, too," she added, eagerly, but in low
tones, "help you in a way of which you little dream. Do you know
what Ralph Mainwaring will attempt next? He will try to implicate
you in the murder of Hugh Mainwaring!"

"That will be no more than you yourself attempted at the inquest,"
he answered.

"Ah, but his motive is different; in my case it was but the resort
of a weak woman to divert suspicion from herself; but he will seek
to fasten this crime upon you to defeat you, to crush and ruin you,
because he fears you as his opponent, and it is within my power to
clear you from any charges he may bring against you."

Her voice sank nearly to a whisper, her eyes were dilated, and she
was trembling with excitement.

He watched her intently for a moment, then spoke in a tone of calm
command. "Tell me how you could help m