'Never, mother. How could I,—to my own mother, who has ever been so good to me? But for the last three months we have been to each other nearly as though we were strangers.'
'But we have loved each other all the same,' said she.
'But love should beget close social intimacy, and above all close confidence in times of sorrow. There has been none such between us.'
What could she say to him? It was on her lips to promise him that such love should again prevail between them as soon as this trial should be over; but the words stuck in her throat. She did not dare to give him so false an assurance. 'Dear Lucius,' she said, 'if it has been my fault, I have suffered for it.'
'I do not say that it is your fault;—nor will I say that it has been my own. If I have seemed harsh to you, I beg your pardon.'
'No, Lucius, no; you have not been harsh. I have understood you through it all.'
'I have been grieved because you did not seem to trust me;—but let that pass now. Mother, I wish that there may be no unpleasant feeling between us when you enter on this ordeal to-morrow.'
'There is none;—there shall be none.'
'No one can feel more keenly,—no one can feel so keenly as I do, the cruelty with which you are treated. The sight of your sorrow has made me wretched.'
'Oh, Lucius!'
'I know how pure and innocent you are———'
'No, Lucius, no.'
'But I say yes; and knowing that, it has cut me to the quick to see them going about a defence of your innocence by quips and quibbles, as though they were struggling for the escape of a criminal.'
'Lucius!' And she put her hands up, praying for mercy, though she could not explain to him how terribly severe were his words.
'Wait a moment, mother. To me such men as Mr. Chaffanbrass and his comrades are odious. I will not, and do not believe that their services are necessary to you———'
'But, Lucius, Mr. Furnival———'
'Yes; Mr. Furnival! It is he that has done it all. In my heart I wish that you had never known Mr. Furnival;—never known him as a lawyer that is,' he added, thinking of his own strong love for the lawyer's daughter.
'Do not upbraid me now, Lucius. Wait till it is all over.'
'Upbraid you! No. I have come to you now that we may be friends. As things have gone so far, this plan of defence must of course be carried on. I will say no more about that. But, mother, I will go into the court with you to-morrow. That support I can
