Many another man, in Rowland’s place, would have greeted this information with an irate and sarcastic laugh, and told his visitors that he thanked them infinitely for their confidence, but that, really, as things stood now, they must settle these matters between themselves; many another man might have so demeaned himself, even if, like Rowland, he had been in love with Mary Garland and pressingly conscious that her destiny was also part of the question.  But Rowland swallowed all hilarity and all sarcasm, and let himself seriously consider Mrs. Hudson’s petition.  His wits, however, were but indifferently at his command; they were dulled by his sense of the inexpressible change in Mrs. Hudson’s attitude.  Her visit was evidently intended as a formal reminder of the responsiblities Rowland had worn so lightly.  Mrs. Hudson was doubtless too sincerely humble a person to suppose that if he had been recreant to his vows of vigilance and tenderness, her still, small presence would operate as a chastisement.  But by some diminutive logical process of her own she had convinced herself that she had been weakly trustful, and that she had suffered Rowland to think too meanly, not only of her understanding, but of her social consequence.  A visit in her best gown would have an admonitory effect as regards both of these attributes; it would cancel some favors received, and show him that she was no such fool!  These were the reflections of a very shy woman, who, determining for once in her life to hold up her head, was perhaps carrying it a trifle extravagantly.

“You know we have very little money to spend,” she said, as Rowland remained silent.  “Roderick tells me that he has debts and nothing at all to pay them with.  He says I must write to Mr. Striker to sell my house for what it will bring, and send me out the money.  When the money comes I must give it to him.  I ’m sure I don’t know; I never heard of anything so dreadful!  My house is all I have.  But that is all Roderick will say.  We must be very economical.”

Before this speech was finished Mrs. Hudson’s voice had begun to quaver softly, and her face, which had no capacity for the expression of superior wisdom, to look as humbly appealing as before.  Rowland turned to Roderick and spoke like a school-master.  “Come away from those statues, and sit down here and listen to me!”

Roderick started, but obeyed with the most graceful docility.

“What do you propose to your mother to do?” Rowland asked.

“Propose?” said Roderick, absently.  “Oh, I propose nothing.”

The tone, the glance, the gesture with which this was said were horribly irritating (though obviously without the slightest intention of being so), and for an instant an imprecation rose to Rowland’s lips.  But he checked it, and he was afterwards glad he had done so.  “You must do something,” he said.  “Choose, select, decide!”

“My dear Rowland, how you talk!” Roderick cried.  “The very point of the matter is that I can’t do anything.  I will do as I ’m told, but I don’t call that doing.  We must leave Rome, I suppose, though I don’t see why.  We have got no money, and you have to pay money on the railroads.”