h there were seats and a table, pots of
flowers, and a silver Jacobean bell. And all round the house were gables
and doorways and windows, showing carvings and inscriptions wherever the
ivy had not hid them.

The door stood wide open and in the porch his mother was sitting. She
had a piece of old English lace in her hand, which she was carefully
darning. Suddenly she heard John's footsteps and she lifted her head and
listened intently. Then with a radiant face she stood upright just as
John came from behind the laurel hedge into the golden rays of the
setting sun, and her face was transfigured as she called in a strong,
joyful voice,

"O John! John! I've been longing for you days and days. Come inside, my
dear lad. Come in! I'll be bound you are hungry. What will you take?
Have a cup of tea, now, John; it will be four hours before suppertime,
you know."

"Very well, mother. I haven't had my tea today, and I am a bit hungry."

"Poor lad! You shall have your tea and a mouthful in a few minutes."

"I'll go to my room, mother, and wash my face and hands. I am not fit
company for a dame so sweet as you are," and he lifted his right hand
courteously as he passed her.

In less than half an hour there was tea and milk, cold meat and fruit
before John, and his mother watched him eating with a beaming
satisfaction. And when John looked into her happy face he wondered at
his dream in Edinburgh, and said gratefully to himself,

"All is right with mother. Thank God for that!"

She did not talk while John was eating, but as he sat smoking in the
porch afterwards, she said,

"I want to ask you where you have been all these weeks, John, but Harry
isn't here, and you won't want to tell your story twice over, will you,
now?"

"I would rather not, mother."

"Your father wouldn't have done it, whether he liked to or not. I don't
expect you are any different to father. I didn't look for you, John,
till next week."

"But you needed me and wanted me?"

"Whatever makes you say that?"

"I dreamed that you wanted me, and I came home to see."

"Was it last Sunday night?"

"Yes."

"About eleven o'clock?"

"I did not notice the time."

"Well, for sure, I was in trouble Sunday. All day long I was in trouble,
and I am in a lot of trouble yet. I wanted you badly, John, and I did
call you, but not aloud. It was just to myself. I wished you were here."

"Then yourself called to myself, and here I am. Whatever troubles you,
mo