"My dear boy," she said, "is that all you have to worry over?"
"No, mother, no—I wish to God it were."
She caught hold of him almost savagely, "Ah—" she gasped. Then the apprehensions that had torn her for days had been justified. She feared to question further. An overwhelming dread held her in its torturing grip. Henry started as though to leave her; his face was averted, she turned him towards her.
"Money again?" she asked.
"You know what the demands on me are. I couldn't disgrace my family by going into bankruptcy, and I had to have money. Well—I was foolish enough to borrow—"
Lady Elizabeth knew instinctively the words that would follow. Her hands clinched his arm so tight that he shrank under the pressure.
"Borrow, mind," he continued, "some of the Fund's money."
"The Relief Fund? Oh, Henry—"
The despair and horror of her tone caused him to put his arms protectingly about her. Even in his own blind fury at fate he could see her shrink from her stately strength into a feeble old woman. He tried to reassure her.
"Oh. it's really all right, mater. I'll be able to replace it.