Peter's Mother

ry. "Is Sir Timothy gone? I have not bee

eks were flushed, and her blue ey

nger face, and fatal to features less regularly delicate and correct. He also wished she were not dressed like a Quaker's wife. The stiff, grey poplin fitted like a glove the pretty curves of Lady Ma

r going away the very d

a

an hour ago. Now she was almost gay. A feverish and unnatural gaiety, no doubt; but those flushed cheeks, and glitteri

e an only son too. And your mother would have gone to the ends of the earth

id John; and he tu

sorry," said L

a good deal-in the world,"

said Lady Mary, dreamily; "but ever since I was

evelation this out-of-the-way place may be to a tired worker like

aid quickly. "You see I'm not t

in creation as vegetables have theirs. But we only ask the flowers to bloom peacefully in s

though she had not

fe here can be. The very voice of a stranger falls like music on one's ears. I was so glad to see you, and you were so kind and sympathetic about-my boy. And then, all in a moment, my joy was t

s dallying with his missio

ee his son off? That must b

with. Probably, however, you know more about it than I do. I am going alone. I have just been giving the necessary orders. I shall take a servant with me, as well as my maid, for I am such an inexperienced trav

ow voice, "if I have judged your ch

is t

ut

ith sweet, puzzled

in John?" she said, with a little touch of

Timothy's cause," s

than duty, isn't i

" said John,

usband doesn't

oo presuming," he

you would be my trustee and my boy's guardian if anything ever happened to Sir Timothy. He told me so long ago.

at case, it would be almost my-my duty to advise yo

ou want to ad

ly, it

y leave England without bidding him God-speed?" said Lady Mary incredulously.

," said John. "But stern facts someti

powers of persuasio

were moved to put forth his full powers, he might be a difficult man to oppose. She met his glance, and observed that he perfectly understood the

in his tenderness for your womanly weakness, he underrates, as I venture to think, your womanly cour

the

h De

u mean?" sa

is to be decided. Every day, every hour of delay, increases the danger. The great surgeon, Dr. Herslett, will be h

rds deliberately to startle her from her absorption in her son; but she looked so fragile, so white, so imploring, tha

you can cheer, and inspire, and aid your husband to maintain the calmness of spirit which is of such vital importance to his chance of r

gh he looked away from her,

ireplace to give her time to recover herself. Perhaps his

s, and spoke in a hard voice h

ou think me, John

there be an i

ut

a

d sympathy. Don't you know he stands alone-above all the human follies and weaknesses of a mere woman? Can't you guess," said Lady Mary, passionately, "that it's my boy, my po

re?" said J

He wants to give people no chance of saying that Lady Mary Crewys rushed off to see her spoilt boy whilst her husband hovered between life and death. A lay figure would do just

ush!" sa

nk what you like of me afterwards, when I am gone, if only you won't scold now. I am so sick of be

hat never grows up; the guilelessness, the charm, th

air forward, and put

you will,"

ll not scold. But you can't understand unless I tell you everything; and Timothy himself, after all, would be the first t

Sir Timothy's words, but she

the memory of his father's unconventional behaviour. I must remember my position. I must smell my salts, and put my feet up on the sofa, and be moderately overcome during the crisis, and moderately thankful to the Almighty when it's over, so

of Peter's death,"

"He's an only son. It's always the o

sure of Sir Tim

said again. "He's

ohn's face and voice a

ou look l

treating you as a woman of courage-Dr. Blundell

red a li

the end of the hall

on. Sir Timothy desired me to join you. He feared thi

strong," sai

deliver a message

es

h desire for the consolation of your presence in wishing you to remain with him t

ou, John!" s

John, shaki

utting force upon himself to speak calmly and steadily. His eye

r; being guided, as far as possible, by the advice of Mr. Crewys. He is afraid of further agitation, and therefore asks yo

and returned

d his departure, John had time to learn by hear

to the day of a man's death, by a vivid im

e full-length, Early Victorian portraits of men and women of his own race-inartistic daubs, that were yet horribly lifelike in the semi-illumination; the uncurtained mullioned windows,-all formed a background

m which all passion and strength had d

ith your

is heart would be touched-that I should get a glimpse once more of the Peter he used to be. Oh, can't you understan

rather sadly, "I'v

be independent, and not tied to a woman's apron-string. But in his heart of hearts he loves me best in the whole world, and he wouldn't have been ashamed to let me see it at

even then, not to the mother he saw waving and weeping on the quay, amid all the confusion of departure, but to the mother of his childhood, of his happy days of long ago. It may be "-John hesitated, and spoke very tenderly-"it may be that his heart will be all the softer then, because he was denied the parting interview

rstand!" said Pet

forcing a smile. "Oh, forgive me, but let me save you; for I believe that if yo

er-" she

nd straightened himsel

them faithfully. I will tell him-for he should be told-of the sore straits in which you find yourself. Set him this no

eld out her

that I will stay

the little hand in silence

the study with

on the badly painted miniature of Peter, and