Mrs. Richards was quite enough up to the world, and had dealt with young men long enough, to know what this meant; nor indeed was she much surprised. She had practical knowledge that Charley had no strong propensity to pay his debts, and she herself was not unaccustomed to answer the emissaries of Mr. Outerman and other greedy tradesmen who were similarly situated. To Mrs. Richards herself Charley was not in debt, and she had therefore nothing to embitter her own feelings against him. Indeed, she had all that fondness for him which a lodging-house keeper generally has for a handsome, dissipated, easy-tempered young man; and when she heard that he had been 'quodded,' immediately made up her mind that steps must be taken for his release. But what was she to do? Norman, who she was aware would 'unquod' him immediately, if he were in the way, was down at Hampton, and was not expected to be at his lodgings for two or three days. After some cogitation, Mrs. Richards resolved that there was nothing for it but to go down to Hampton herself, and break the news to his friends. Charley would not have been a bit obliged to her had he known it, but Mrs. Richards acted for the best. There was a train down to Hampton Court that night, and a return train to bring her home again--so off she started. Mrs. Woodward had on that same afternoon taken down Katie, who was still an invalid;--Norman had gone down with them, and was to remain there for some few days--going up and down every morning and evening. Mrs. Woodward was sitting in the drawing-room; Linda and Katie were with her, the latter lying in state on her sofa as invalid young ladies should do; Captain Cuttwater was at Hampton Court, and Norman was on the water; when a fly from the railway made its way up to the door of the Cottage. 'Mrs. Richards, ma'am,' said the demure parlour-maid, ushering in the lodging-house keeper, who in her church-going best made a very decent appearance. 'Oh, Mrs. Richards, how are you?' said Mrs. Woodward, who knew the woman very well--'pray sit down--are there any news from London?' 'Oh, ma'am, such news--such bad news--Mister Charley--.' Up jumped Katie from her sofa and stood erect upon the floor. She stood there, with her mouth slightly open, with her eyes intently fixed on Mrs. Richards, with her little hands each firmly clenched, drawing her breath with hard, short, palpitating efforts. There she stood, but said nothing. 'Oh, Mrs. Richards--what is it?' said Mrs. Woodward; 'for Heaven's sake what is the matter?' 'Oh, ma'am; he's been took,' said Mrs. Richards. 'Took!' repeated Mrs. Woodward. 'Katie, dear Katie--sit down, my child--sit down.' 'Oh, mamma! oh, mamma!' said she, apparently unable to move, and certainly all but unable to stand. 'Tell us, Mrs. Richards, what is it--what has happened to Mr. Tudor?' and as she spoke Mrs. Woodward got up and passed her arm around her younger daughter's waist--Linda also got up and joined the group.