does he mean? Is he ill? has anything happened? He is so white,
and he has forgotten his hat! He has never left me like this before. Oh,
Michael, do call him back; I must speak to him!'

'I cannot. I think something is troubling him. Let me go, Audrey; he
will tell you everything by and by.' And Michael snatched up his hat and
Cyril's, and hurried after him as fast as his halting gait permitted.

Cyril had not gone far; he was standing by the gate quite motionless,
and his hair and face were wet with the heavy rain. Michael took him by
the arm and walked on with him; he must see him safely to his room, and
charge Mrs. Blake not to go near him.

'He must have time; he is simply stunned and incapable of thought now,'
he said to himself, as he piloted him through the dark, wet streets.

Biddy admitted them. She gave them a searching glance as they entered.
Cyril's disordered condition must have told her everything, for she put
her wrinkled, claw-like hand on his arm with a warning gesture.

'Don't let the mistress see you like that, Mr. Cyril avick, or you'll
fright her to death. Go up softly, or she will hear you.'

But Biddy's warning was in vain. The staircase was badly lighted, and
Michael made a false, stumbling step. The next moment Mrs. Blake came
out on the landing. The sight of the two men together seemed to transfix
her with horror.

'You have told him!--oh, heavens! you have told him!' she cried, in a
despairing voice.

Cyril raised his heavy eyes and looked at her, but he did not speak; he
passed her as he had passed Audrey, and went up to his room, and they
heard the door close heavily behind him.

'I will go to him! How dare you detain me, Captain Burnett? I will go to
my son!'

But Michael took no notice of this angry remonstrance; his hand was on
her arm, and very gently, but firmly, he made her enter the
drawing-room.

'Mrs. Blake, will you listen to me for a moment?'

'No, I will not listen!' she answered passionately, and her bosom began
to heave. 'I will go to him and make him speak to me. Did you see how he
looked at me--his mother--as he has never looked at me in his life?' And
the unhappy woman broke into tears and sobs. 'Oh, my boy! my boy! Let me
go to him, Captain Burnett, and I will bless you as long as I live; let
me go and kneel to him, if I must. Do you think my boy will see his
mother at his feet and not forgive her?'

'He will forgive you, Mrs. Blake,' returned Michael, in a p