's because, like the rest of the world, you don't estimate me at my
true value. I have a great vein of reflection or reflectiveness--which
is it, Dolly? but it 's the deepest of the two--in me, if people only
knew it."

"You have a great vein of kind-heartedness, and you are a good son to
a good mother," said she, as a pink blush tinged her cheek, "and I like
that better."

It was plain that the praise had touched him, and deeply too, for he
drew his hand across his eyes, and his lip trembled as he said, "It was
just about that dear mother I wanted to speak to you, Dolly. You know
I'm going away?"

"My father told me," said she, with a nod of her head.

"And though, of course, I may manage a short leave now and then to come
over and see her, she 'll be greatly alone. Now, Dolly, you know how she
loves you,--how happy she always is when you come over to us. Will you
promise me that you'll often do so? You used to think nothing of the
walk long ago, and when you get strong and hearty again, you 'll not
think more of it. It would be such a comfort to me, when I am far away,
to feel that you were sitting beside her,--reading to her, perhaps,
or settling those flowers she's so fond of. Ah, Dolly, I'll have that
window that looks out on the white rocks in my mind, and you sitting at
it, many and many a day, when I 'll be hundreds of miles off."

"I love your mother dearly, Tony; she has been like a mother to myself
for many a year, and it would be a great happiness to me to be with her;
but don't forget, Tony,"--and she tried to smile as she spoke,--"don't
forget that I'll have to go seek my fortune also."

"And are n't you come to live at home now for good?"

She shook her head with a sorrowful meaning, and said:

"I'm afraid not, Tony. My dear, dear father does not grow richer as he
grows older, and he needs many a little comfort that cannot come of his
own providing, and you know he has none but me."

The intense sadness of the last few words were deepened by the swimming
eyes and faltering lips of her that uttered them.

"And are you going back to these M'Gruders?"

She shook her head in negative.

"I 'm glad of that I 'm sure they were not kind."

"Nay, Tony, they were good folk, but after their own fashion; and they
always strove to be just."

"Another word for being cruel. I 'd like to know what's to become of any
of us in this world if we meet nothing better than Justice. But why did
you leave them?--