It had been a shock to Mrs. Ryder that morning when Jefferson burst into his mother’s room before she was up and acquainted her with the events of the previous evening.  The news that the Miss Green whom she had grown to love, was really the Miss Rossmore of whose relations with Jefferson her husband stood in such dread, was far from affecting the financier’s wife as it had Ryder himself.  To the mother’s simple and ingenuous mind, free from prejudice and ulterior motive, the girl’s character was more important than her name, and certainly she could not blame her son for loving such a woman as Shirley.  Of course, it was unfortunate for Jefferson that his father felt this bitterness towards Judge Rossmore, for she herself could hardly have wished for a more sympathetic daughter-in-law.  She had not seen her husband since the previous evening at dinner so was in complete ignorance as to what he thought of this new development, but the mother sighed as she thought how happy it would make her to see Jefferson happily married to the girl of his own choice, and in her heart she still entertained the hope that her husband would see it that way and thus prevent their son from leaving them as he threatened.

“That’s not your fault, my dear,” she replied answering Shirley’s question.  “You are yourself—­that’s the main thing.  You mustn’t mind what Mr. Ryder says?  Business and worry makes him irritable at times.  If you must go, of course you must—­you are the best judge of that, but Jefferson wants to see you before you leave.”  She kissed Shirley in motherly fashion, and added:  “He has told me everything, dear.  Nothing would make me happier than to see you become his wife.  He’s downstairs now waiting for me to tell him to come up.”

“It’s better that I should not see him,” replied Shirley slowly and gravely.  “I can only tell him what I have already told him.  My father comes first.  I have still a duty to perform.”

“That’s right, dear,” answered Mrs. Ryder.  “You’re a good, noble girl and I admire you all the more for it.  I’ll let Jefferson be his own advocate.  You’ll see him for my sake!”

She gave Shirley another affectionate embrace and left the room while the girl proceeded with her final preparations for departure.  Presently there was a quick, heavy step in the corridor outside and Jefferson appeared in the doorway.  He stood there waiting for her to invite him in.  She looked up and greeted him cordially, yet it was hardly the kind of reception he looked for or that he considered he had a right to expect.  He advanced sulkily into the room.

“Mother said she had put everything right,” he began.  “I guess she was mistaken.”

“Your mother does not understand, neither do you,” she replied seriously.  “Nothing can be put right until my father is restored to honour and position.”

“But why should you punish me because my father fails to regard the matter as we do?” demanded Jefferson rebelliously.