Herbert had once a son--an only
son, and, as his lady died in childbed, Sir Robert's wife had taken
great delight in the boy, and brought him up with her own children; and
a pretty boy it was, so fond of the sea! He would sit for an hour
together on my knee, and always called me nurse, and used to play with
you as if you were his equal, and call Mistress Cecil, that now is, his
wife! Sweet lamb that he was! Robin, Robin, he went too; how, I never
knew, but I guess: the murderer of the father thought he should be more
safe if the boy was away, and he pretended grief, and his poor lady felt
it. Now it is of that boy I would have spoken to Mistress Cecil, for my
heart misgives me--"

Farther communication was interrupted by the entrance of Constantia's
maid, who came to ascertain if the widow Hays were really dying.

"My lady has trouble enough of her own, the Lord knows; but she will
leave watching by the bed-side of my poor distraught master, if she can
render any aid."

"Robin, raise me up," exclaimed the dying woman, with a gesture of great
impatience; "raise me up, Robin, and push the hair from my ears, that I
may hear distinctly. Did you mean, young woman[,] that Sir Robert was
distraught--mad?"

"Alack! yes," replied the girl; "mad, poor gentleman!"

"It is enough--enough--enough! I knew it would come in some shape; yet
madness must be mercy to him!" Having so said, she sank back, while the
serving wench stood in astonishment: and at length inquired, "What she
meant?"

"She raves," was Robin's reply, drawing the girl out of the chamber:
"give my humble duty to your lady, and tell her that the son of Mother
Hays is with her, and that she lacks nothing the world can give her
now." As the girl departed, Springall came to the door.

"Robin Hays! you must leave even your dying mother--something must be
determined on. He is come! Listen to the guns at Sheerness, telling the
island who has touched the soil on this side of the ferry."

Robin stood for a moment at the porch, and heard the booming of cannon
heavily passing through the air, traversing the low downs, and roaring
from crag to crag, as if rejoicing in liberty; the ships that lay out at
sea sent forth a reply, and in a moment their flags were waving in the
wind.

Robin returned for a moment to his mother's room.

"Mother," he said, "for one hour I must leave you, but I will send some
one to watch by your bed-side. Pray to God, a God of mercy, who has