"Don't go, George!" said his mother.
"George, you're wanted," said Agnes. "Effie is here, and Mr. Gering—they want to see you. Come at once."
"Mr. Gering!" exclaimed the mother. "He was the man you took the money from. He's coming to—punish you, to—George, you're not to go. Stay here with me. I'll hide you. You're not to go, George—I won't let you, I won't let you!"
"Dear mother! dear, dearest mother! you must let me—I must take the punishment. I've deserved it and I'm determined to go through with it. Just say a wonderful thing to me before I go, and I'll be strong enough to bear it—and to—to come back to you when it's over. Say you love me still, mother."
"Love you!" exclaimed Mrs. Staunton.
"Yes, mother, although I'm a thief."
"Bless the boy! that has nothing to do with it. You're my boy, whatever you are."
"Then you do still love me?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Of course I love the lad!"
George went straight to the door and opened it. He walked straight into the other room.