u."

"Would you, mother dear?"

John rose and walked up and down the room a good many times. His mother
waited with patience till he sat down again.

"Well, John?" said she.

"Do you mean it, mother?"

"Surely I mean it, or I wouldna say it. I should like better that you
should content yourself at home. But it would be a new beginning."

"Yes, it would be a new beginning," said John gravely.

"It would need to be that, even here, in some ways, I suppose, and a new
beginning might be easier there."

"Have you been thinking about all that, mother?"

"Surely! What else have I to think about but that which concerns you,
who have your life before you?"

"And wouldna you be afraid of the long voyage, and the going to a
strange land and leaving all behind you?"

"I would have my fears, I daresay, like other folk; but I would have few
to leave if you were away; and I would have you to welcome me."

"I might come home for you in the course of a year or two."

"You could hardly do that without interfering with your work, whatever
it might be. But I might come to you with some one else. I feel strong
and well now."

"You are none the worse for the winter, mother?"

"None the worse, but much the better," said she cheerfully. And then
she paused to consider whether it would be wise to say more.

"It will hurt him, but it may help him as well," she thought; and then
she said aloud:

"I am far stronger than I was when I came here, and in better health
every way. I may tell you now, since it is over, that all the last
summer I was afraid--ay, sore afraid, of what might be before me. But I
had a few words with Dr Fleming about myself, and he bade me put away
my fears, for I had mistaken my trouble altogether. It was a great
relief to my mind, and he helped my body as well. I am a stronger woman
to-day than I ever thought to be."

John, remembering the lingering illness of an aunt, knew or guessed what
her fear had been, and he grew white as he met her eyes.

"Are you sure, mother," said he hoarsely, "that you are now safe from
all fear?"

"As sure as the word of a skillful doctor and honest man can make me.
Yes, I think I may say I have no fear now."

"And you kept this dread to yourself! Oh! mother! mother!" said John,
covering his face with his hands.

She had been enduring this trial--this great dread, in one way worse to
meet than suffering itself would have been; while he, full of himself
an