She could only, therefore, repeat the sad
truth that, since his energies had given way, all his former plans and
all his customary opinions, in reference to his son, seemed to have
undergone some disastrous and sudden alteration. It was only in
consequence of this alteration, which appeared to render him as unfit
to direct her how to act as to act himself; that she had ventured to
undertake the responsibility of arranging the present interview with
Zack, and of bringing him the small pecuniary assistance which Mr.
Blyth had considered to be necessary in the present melancholy
emergency.
The enumeration of all these particulars--interrupted, as it constantly
was, by unavailing lamentations on one side and by useless
self-reproaches on the other--occupied much more time than either
mother or son had imagined. It was not till the clock in Mr. Blyth's
hall struck, that Mrs. Thorpe discovered how much longer her absence
from home had lasted than she had intended it should on leaving
Baregrove Square. She rose directly, in great trepidation--took a
hurried leave of Valentine, who was loitering about his front
garden--sent the kindest messages she could think of to the ladies
above stairs--and departed at once for home.
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