It was not until some minutes had passed away that Rhoda was calm enough to hear her mother's story. The two sat hand in hand, nearer to each other in heart than they had ever been before. Perhaps Mrs. Farren had always been a little afraid of her daughter; but now that she had got a glimpse into Rhoda's inner self the reserve vanished. "We had always felt sure that Robert was no practised sinner," she began; "but we did not know what it was that had driven him to a crime--we only guessed something like the truth. O Rhoda, it's an awful thing when vanity gets the upper hand with a woman! Poor Helen made a sad confession to me when she lay dying in this very room. It's hard to speak of the faults of the dead; but there's justice to be done to the living." "Whatever her faults may have been, they were no worse than mine," Rhoda said, humbly; "and she has done with sinning now, while I shall be going on--perhaps for years longer." "Helen got deeply into debt," Mrs. Farren continued; "and she used, I am afraid, to go to balls and theatres without her husband's knowledge. He was sent away sometimes on business by Mr. Elton. But don't think her worse than she was, Rhoda--she loved gaiety and admiration passionately, but she wasn't a bad woman at heart--he always knew and believed that; yet she got him into terrible difficulties, poor child! And at last, when her debts had amounted to three hundred pounds, she flung herself at his feet and confessed the truth." Both the women were crying. It was indeed hard to expose the faults and follies of the dead. They felt as if they had been tearing the soft turf and sweet flowers from Helen's grave; and yet it had to be done. "Robert was not a converted man at that time," went on Mrs. Farren. "The blow knocked him down, and utterly bewildered him. He saw no means at all of paying the debts, and he knew they must be paid immediately. Helen hadn't confessed till her creditors had driven her to extremities; and he went into the city in a state of despair, for there was 'no help for him in his God.' Perhaps he would have asked aid from his employer if Mr. Elton had been the owner of the business. But old Mrs. Elton was a close woman, and her son did nothing without her consent." Rhoda could almost guess what was coming. She could see now that man's extremity is often the devil's opportunity. If a soul does not seek help from God, the prince of darkness steps in.