mile of recognition came upon her lips, and she raised one hand
to her son, and laid it upon his head as he sank upon his knees by the
bedside.

"Oh, mother darling!" he whispered, in a choking voice, "forgive me for
not coming before."

She half closed her eyes, and made a movement of the lips for him to
kiss her. Then her eyes closed, as she breathed a weary sigh.

Frank turned in horror to the physician, who bent down and whispered to
him.

"Don't be alarmed; it is sleep. She has, I find, been in a terribly
excited state, and I have been compelled to administer a strong
sedative. She will be calmer when she wakes. Sleep is everything now."

"You are not deceiving me, sir?" whispered Frank.

"No. That is the simple truth," replied the physician, very firmly.
"Your mother may wake at any time; but I hope many hours will first
elapse. I find that she has expressed an intense longing for you to
come to her side, and, as you saw, she recognised you."

"Oh yes, she knew me," said Frank eagerly. "But pray tell me--she is
not dying?"

"Lady Gowan is in a very serious condition," replied the doctor; "but I
hope she will recover, and--"

"Yes, yes; pray speak out to me, sir," pleaded the boy.

"Her ailment is almost entirely mental; and if the news can be brought
to her that the King will show mercy to her husband, I believe that her
recovery would be certain."

"Then you think I ought to go at once and try to save my father?"

"No," said the physician gravely. "I know all the circumstances of the
case. You can do no good by going. Leave that to your friends--those
high in position. Your place is here. Whenever Lady Gowan wakes, she
must find you at her bedside. There, I will leave you now. Absolute
quiet, mind. Sleep is the great thing. I will come in again in about
three hours. The nurse knows what to do."

The physician went out silently, and Frank seated himself by his
mother's pillow, to hold the thin hand which feebly clung to his and
watch her, thinking the while of how his difficulties had been solved by
these last orders, which bound him there like the endorsement of his
father's commands to stay by and watch over his mother.

He could think clearly now, and see that much of that which he had
desired to do was impossible. Even if he had set one duty aside, that
to the Prince, his master, and let his love for and desire to save his
father carry all before them, he could see plainly en