“The truth, I fear,” and Judy made a detestable face. “Do you think mamma would hesitate to steal if she thought she wouldn’t be found out? No, indeed; but Stanton will be too sharp for her, and he is so particular that if he finds her out he will be in a terrible rage.”
“This is a shocking thing that you are saying; surely you have made a mistake.”
“No, I have not,” said Judy stubbornly. “I wish I had. Where did mamma get that last set of jewelry? where those English dresses? She must have squeezed the money out of her housekeeping.”
“Judy, I feel very much in the way; you should not have brought me here.”
“Are you not willing to do this much for me?” said the girl. “Do you want to see my mother turned out of doors?”
“No,” said Vivienne, throwing her arm around her neck; “but what can I do, dear?”
“You can do more with Stanton than any one. He has been hateful lately. A bear with two sore paws would be an angel compared with him. I cannot hear mamma saying a word. She must be terribly disturbed. She always begins to shriek over a slight thing. Will you not go in?”
“Judy, I cannot,” and Vivienne drew away from her.
“Stanton is raising his voice; he must be furious,” said Judy, placing an ear at the door. “What is he saying? ‘Leave here at once.’ Oh, Vivienne, go in, go in! Tell him that she cannot. What will people say?”
Vivienne was standing at a little distance from her, and she did not move till Judy threw herself upon her with a frantic, “Vivienne, she is my mother; I do not love her, yet—yet——”