Peter's Mother

imothy?" sai

said Sir Timothy, dropping

ll be little better tha

warning tones; "it

ends to order fresh te

ew

looking appealingly at Sir Timothy; "and you k

ast to wish to trouble poor Ash unnecessarily, but

learn to be punctual? No; I will take it as it is.

Sir Timothy spoke to his wife exactly as he might have addressed a troubl

ith you," said Sir Timothy to his cousin, "if it had be

ugh to-morrow morning for that

he oriel window, but he tur

erwise occupi

efore very long," said John, cheerfully

y, smiling. "Timothy hates walking uphill, and I sho

tire yourself, my de

ombe woods means simpl

; "and you ar

o allow me at least the use of my l

no lady, can be cal

s, se

g of a bell change

w tiresome!"

ry!" said S

with rather a mischievous twinkle, "for I owe calls to all the nice

!" said Lady Belston

the butler and footman crossed the hall to the outer vestibule, "that

call for more than a week. Royalty, he always said, the sa

ady Mary, petulantly. "But I cannot spend my whole life driving along the h

reate carriages for bu

Bel

rthy neighbours, Mary," said Sir Timothy, pompou

return their calls, T

ly laughed. Sir Timot

Lady Belstone, unhea

pant poor Mary is to-n

can i

tting her, poor thing," said her sister, in the same whisper

something emphatic

l," said Ash, advan

it was visitors," cried Lady Mary, coming forward to greet th

Gilberts' tea-party. I thought we should be certain to meet you there," said Mrs. Hewel, in rather reproachful tones. "Sarah, of cou

," said Lady Mary, with a conscie

rriage round to the sta

l this happening at once," said Mrs. Hewel. She was a large, stout woman, with breathless manner and plaintive

hy. "You don't mean to say

hy; she grew up the day

. H

" said the d

e for Sarah-that's partly what I came about. After the trouble she's been all her life to me, and all-just going to

that Lady Tintern was her aunt; and La

unge," said Mrs. Hewel, not intending to be funny. "It will be a change for Sarah, such a hoyden as she has al

the nursery, playing with m

" said an odd, deep

Sarah had taken a low chair beside her hostess, and was hol

ired Peter. She was the black sheep of her own family, and in continual disgrace for lesser crimes than he daily committed with impunity. But her admiration of Peter was tame and pale beside her admiration of Lady Mary. A mother who never scolded, who told no tales, who petted black sheep when they were bruised

her critically in the lamplight, decided she would develop, one of these days, into a very handsome young woman;

ometimes accompanies vivid red hair-and of a vivid, uncompromising red were the

ositive fright; and Lady Belstone had declared that such hair woul

r offspring. "But what can I do? There's no going against Lady Tintern; a

Lady Mary, in her deep, almost tragic voice-a voice that com

said Mr

led. "Me? Yes, Sarah; I w

rly-before they're one and twenty. I kn

of her recently discarded childhood, I

t unless they had their parents' consent. I was n

oung to marry at seventeen, did they?"

ut shook her head. "You wa

guardian, so, of course, there was nobody to stop his marryi

u cease chattering?

in South Africa, Mrs. Hewel," said the

e heard last. Tom is in Natal, so I feel happier about him; but Willie, o

, softly. "Every mother must be proud to have so

, clearing his throat; and Lady Mary shrugged her shoulders, whilst the canon

with our brave soldie

we

thy?" she exclaimed. "Well, mamma-talking of the justice of the war-when Tom a

said La

n to hurt you-talking of the war-and-and the boys-when you must b

" Lady Mar

e details. My cousin George, who is also going out with Lord Ferries

ly. "Peter wrote for permission to join, and I refused. My son is fort

o get his kit, because they were to sa

, in breathless indignat

n, Timothy?" said L

above shed its light on her brown hair, and flashed

rose from

to understand,"

t you see what it means? It just means that Peter is

said Mrs. Hewel, in distressed tones. "An

touched the

" whispered the

s looking at Lady Mary as he spoke. Her face was

canon, "I-I have a commu

ject?" said

er from

so earlier?" said S

will kindly give me fi

er," said Lady Mar

t them all with a

rasped the situation. He divined also that Lady Mary was fight

did not know?" said Mr

e dark," said Sir

at once," said the

you, that he has joined Lord Ferries' Horse; feeling it his-his duty to his country to do s

y Mary, having so inadvertently anticipated Peter's letter, there is only one thing left

your carriage," said Sir T

or, paused irresolutely, and

w it would make you so unhappy. It was partly my fault for telling Peter in the holidays that only old men, invalids, and-and

't you see that Lady Mary can't attend t

nd Sarah forgot she had grown up the day before

d looked at it without a word; but from the sofa,

poor Mary spoilt Peter so terrib

alk, Georgina. Nothing h

ed his fathe

eorgina. Had the admiral been alive,

n the sofa and the table, as though to shield Lady Mary from their obs

l you get the letter for me? I want to

ohn, bending over her for a moment. "

him witho

said courteously, "but Lady Mary cannot bear this susp

ews; though, of course, there is nothing that Lady Mary may not know," s

it first," said Mis

Timothy would not be p

f authority, had quietly taken the letter from the canon's

" said Lady Belstone, indignantly. "Almo

d Miss Crewys, angrily. "I saw her whispering a

contents?" said Lady Belstone

have no desire to fulfil so unpleasing a task. Still, the matter was entrusted to me. However, the main substance has

one can consider the feelings of

hat the canon would reveal the whole contents of Peter's letter to her more easily in p

me, Isabella,-Sir Timothy thoughtlessly keeping the door

ay want me," said

adyship, vigorously propelling her supporter out of reach of possible interruption. "Cl

ve no idea of permitting country apotheca