Peter's Mother

rary with the letter in her ha

mot

as she gave him the letter. Sir Timothy took out h

rd," she said, trembling with impatience. "My bo

Timothy, "to read t

" she said, half

e polite platitudes to his parent, and had presumably not intended that his letter to the canon shoul

headstrong, deceitful

e has proved himself a man.' And he is right. It was a shame and a disgrace for him to stay a

er, my boy, my boy, how could

d Sir Timothy, suspiciously. He could not follow her rapid change

bling, "when have I ever been d

I do not doubt you for a moment, Mary. But you spoke with such

d laugh which pained

ve forgotten myse

lm. I understand that this mu

, defiantly. "I glory in it. I-I wi

r face in

pose," said Sir Timothy, "to

he cried eagerly, and

if I could. He wou

h shut him from Sir Timothy's presence. "He has laid his plans for thwarting my known wishes too well. I do not know what might be said if we stopped him. I-I won't have my name made a laughing-stock. I am a

When Sir Timothy began to shout, she always grew cal

hy. "But the fact is, I never flattered Ferries as he expected; it is not my way to natter any one; and co

hink he knows you well enough to dislike you," said La

unaware that he was stating a plain fact. "I shall certainly not telegraph to t

they should be. He's been hiding in London, poor Peter; getting his outfit by stealth, ashamed, whilst other boys are being fêted and praised by their people, proud of

its own punishment. The part of his deception that should pain you mo

to expect too much heart from a boy, ought one? It's-it's not a healt

over my authority involves his departure to certain danger and possible death, without even a

ut I won't let him. How can you think

n you h

get to Southampton by daybreak. I know it can be done. Ash will look out the trains. Why do you look at me like that? You're not going to stop my going, are you? You're not going to try and stop me, are you

nce really alarmed and distressed him. "It is not like you to talk lik

closer to him, and took his big

nd unloving as they grow older. I try, now and then, to shut my eyes and see him as he once was; but all the time I know that the little boy who used to be Peter has gone away for ever and ever and ever. If he had died when he was little he would always have been my li

o so, Mary," said S

give him before he goes, Timothy. There's no time to b

to-morrow," repeated

that his wife's thoughts were so exclusively fixed on P

ess him-he's not the dreary, cold-blooded, priggish boy he sometimes pretends to be. Don't remember him like that now, Timothy. Think of that morning in June-that glorious, sunny morning in June, when you knelt by the o

for Peter, and for himself. But the voice of the charmer, charm she never so wis

bed-the placid courage, largely aided by dulness of imagination, which had enabled poor Sir Timot

ster him, and forced himself to be calm. When he spoke again h

rself and me. Let us confine ou

e hand she held so warmly pressed

said in clear tones. "

o-

To be always on guard. My fe

d besides, so far as I am concerned, y

" she cried joyfully, y

rgiven him, Mary. It is not the moment for me to ch

hen you will come

giveness and the blessing which he has not sough

so much as that, Timothy, and for n

, n

er deceived you. I will not defy you in secret, like Peter; but I will go and bid

was a

resentfully, "as though I had h

softly, "you never even f

words; it is doubtful

far as I considered it compatible with your highest welfare. I do not pretend I can enter int

Mary, half mockingly, half sadly. "Can't we-kee

emain at home to-morrow. I had hoped, by concealing it from you, to spare y

ary la

sters are not, or they would be sighing and shaking their heads. And John-John Crewys? Oh, he is a lawyer. When does a visitor ever come here except on business? He has something to do with it. Ah, to advise you for nothing over your p

you? I never knew you

aordinary flippancy

utes ago that my boy was going to the war. I must either laugh or-or cry, and you woul

tand you," he s

he had awakened, frightened, to the

subdued voice. "I won't torment you any more, Timothy; I

wishing you to remain at home?" he s

there be any business in the world half so importa

deepened almost to purple, his grey eye

opposition to my wishes, go!" he thund

ath was too familia

Timothy raised his voice. She turned, however, at

o and find out about the trains, and I will return and listen to whatever you wish-I will

peak. He bowed his head, and the slend

e empty hall, and felt his pulse. The slow, steady t

k to me for a moment? Dr. Blundell, would you have the goodness to

Blundell, from the arm

ously at his cousin. It struck him that Sir Timothy had lost s

e, and made an effort to speak in his voice of everyday. H

work," he said, "to advise in difficult matters. You come among us a str

lity," said John. He p

s fresh trouble tha

you. Do you consider that-that her husband or

ubtedly," said Joh

y. A gleam of satisfaction had broken ov

point of view," said J

speak dif

mothy. He did not perceive the twinkle in John's eyes at this reply. "In my opinion t

that there are as many different points

ew away as irrelevant, "since my wife, very naturally, desires to see her son again before h

e operation prove unsuccessful, you would

oing remains in any, case the same, whether the operation succeeds or fails. I feared that it would be the wrong thi

o light up for one instant with scorn and wonder; then he recollected himself.

blow. I am less sure of my judgment than usual in consequence. However, if you think my wife ought to be told"-John nodded very decidedly-"let her be told. I am bound to say Dr. Blundell thought so too, though his opinion is neither here nor there in such a matter, but so long as you understand that my only desire is th

uched by the note of piteous anxiety whic

s returning immediately. Break it to her as gently as you can.

the study, leaving