them
sympathies in common.

Together they set sail for England when the soldier's work was
done, and after a fairly prosperous voyage they landed in that
country, and immediately started for Bath, where Wolfe hoped to
find relief from his rheumatic troubles, and gain the strength
which he had lost during this hard campaign.

"I think my mother will be awaiting me there this time," he said,
with a light in his eyes. "You have never seen my mother yet,
Julian. Ah, how I long to see her again! she has been such a mother
to me! There are times when I think if I have to give up this
profession of arms, and take to a quiet life, I could have a very
happy life at home with my mother. We suit each other so well, and
we are like each other in our foibles and weaknesses. I think I
have inherited my cranky health from her, but not her beauty. You
will see for yourself how little like her I am in that respect when
we get home."

To Julian, who had known nothing of the joys of home since he left
his valley in the far south of the Western world, and who had no
home to call his own now, there was something touching in the
eagerness of Wolfe to reach his home and his mother. His father was
not likely to be there. He would almost certainly be either in
Kent, or else abroad; for he still held a command in the army, and
the war on the Continent was still raging furiously. But the mother
would be awaiting her son in the house he had written to ask her to
secure for him again. It was within easy reach of the town, and yet
it was quiet and secluded, and suited his tastes and habits.

It was almost dark one murky autumn evening when the lumbering
coach, which had conveyed the friends the last stages of their
journey, drew up at the door of the house. Lights shone in the
windows, and from the open door there streamed out a glowing shaft
of yellow light, bespeaking the warm welcome awaiting the tired
traveller.

Wolfe had been weary to the verge of exhaustion when they had
abandoned the attempt to ride the whole distance, and had secured
the heavy coach; but now he seemed to revive to new life, and he
sprang from it with some of the activity of youth and strength.

"Mother--there is my mother!" he exclaimed; and Julian saw him take
the steps two at a time, to meet the advancing greeting from the
mother who had come to welcome home her son.

Mrs. Wolfe was a distinctly beautiful woman, whose beauty had been
but little dimmed by time.