IX.
She saw Catty open the front door and run away. Her mother was coming slowly down the narrow hall.
She ran up the flagged path.
"Mamma!" She flung herself to the embrace.
Her mother swerved from her, staggering back and putting out her hands between them. Aware of Mr. Parish shouldering the trunk, she turned into the open dining-room. Mary followed her and shut the door.
Her mother sat down, helplessly. Mary saw that she was crying; she had been crying a long time. Her soaked eyelashes were parted by her tears and gathered into points.
"Mamma—what is it?"
"What is it? You've disgraced yourself. Everlastingly. You've disgraced your father, and you've disgraced me. That's what it is."
"I haven't done anything of the sort, Mamma."
"You don't think it's a disgrace, then, to be expelled? For infidelity."