She came in with a rapid step and startled face, as if she had been summoned by the noise.

Seeing the heap of shattered clay and the mallet in Roderick's hand, she gave a cry of horror.

Her voice died away when she perceived that Rowland was a stranger, but she murmured reproachfully, "Why, Roderick, what have you done ?" Roderick gave a joyous kick to the shapeless fragments.

"I 've driven the money-changers out of the temple!" he cried.
The traces retained shape enough to be recognized, and she gave a little moan of pity.

She seemed not to understand the young man's allegory, but yet to feel that it pointed to some great purpose, which must be an evil one, from being expressed in such a lawless fashion, and to perceive that Rowland was in some way accountable for it.