British, and the utter rout of the French army. The next morning
Ralph had a great surprise; for just as he had finished his breakfast
there was a tap at the door, and a lady entered. Ralph could hardly
believe his eyes as his mother ran forward to the bed. But the
pressure of her arms and her kisses soon showed him that it was a
reality.

"Why, mother darling!" he exclaimed, "how on earth did you get here?"

"I came across in a smack to Ostend, Ralph, and then came on by carriage.
I got here last night, and learned at the quartermaster-general's
office that you were wounded and were somewhere in Brussels, at least
they believed you were here somewhere, but they could not say where.
They let me have a copy of the list of the houses that had been
allotted for the use of wounded officers. It was too late to begin the
search last night, but I have been three hours going round this
morning. I saw the surgeon downstairs and he told me--" and her lips
quivered and her eyes filled with tears.

"That I had lost my left arm, mother. Well, that is nothing to fret
about when thousands have been killed. One can do very well without a
left arm; and I think, on the whole, that I have been wonderfully
lucky. Denis!" But Denis was not in the room, having, as soon as he
had discovered who Ralph's visitor was, gone out to leave them alone.
"And have you made this journey all by yourself, mother?"

"No, my dear. Mr. Tallboys was good enough to come over to take care
of me by the way."

"Mr. Tallboys, mother! How did he know that you were coming?"

"Well, I told him, Ralph. But that is a long story, and you shall hear
it another day. The doctor said you had better not do much talking
now. Mr. Tallboys will stay here a day or two and then go home. I
intend to take a room somewhere close by and install myself here as
your head nurse."

"I shan't want much nursing, mother; but I shall be delighted to have
you with me. I have a capital servant. The man I told you about in my
letters. He is a most amusing fellow and very much attached to me. Do
you know, he got leave directly the battle was over, and was all night
walking by the side of the ambulance wagon. He is a capital fellow. By
the way, mother, I suppose the will has not turned up yet? You said in
your last letter you had great hopes of its being found."

"It has been found, Ralph; and it is all just as we supposed. But how
it was found, or anything about it, you mustn't ask at p