"Don't cry, Betty, my child; you know we've always had each other, good times and bad. Ah, my dear, it's a sad childhood you had, but I could do no more. You must do as your heart tells you, my child."
"Oh, mother, and we were so happy together, and everything going so well."
"We'll manage somehow, Betty dear; you've never known me give up yet, have you, child?"
"No—but it's so cruel to think of you having to work and slave all the time—and we might have lived in luxury the two of us—but I can't, mother, I can't."
"Never think of it, Betty dear; I am well and strong, and we'll get along all right. And if you don't care to stay on at the office there after what's happened, why, there must be other places you could get."
"Yes, I know—but it was so nice there, and I was just getting into things so well. And—and—Mr. William was so nice and kind."
She fell to crying once more, but Mrs. Rantzau sat up sharply.
"William—was he nice to you, you say?"
"Yes, so kind and friendly, and he told me about things—— Oh, he's a good man, I know."
"Told you about what things, Betty?"