The instant her mother was out of the room she sprang from her seat, and had just secured the letter when the dining-room door was pushed open, and Mrs.
Dinneford came in, white and frightened.

She saw the letter in Edith's hand, and with a cry like some animal in pain leaped upon her and tried to wrest it from her grasp.

But Edith held it in her closed hand with a desperate grip, defying all her mother's efforts to get possession of it.

In her wild fear and anger Mrs.Dinneford exclaimed, "I'll kill you if you don't give me that letter!" and actually, in her blind rage, reached toward the table as if to get a knife.

Mr.
Dinneford, who had been for a moment stupefied, now started forward, and throwing his arms about his wife, held her tightly until Edith could escape with the letter, not releasing her until the sound of his daughter's retiring feet were no longer heard.