"I hope not!" his son exclaimed with energy; "for if so it must surely be
the cause of life-long self-reproach to her. Will you go with us to the
depôt, father?"

"No, no, my son! let my first sight of my poor stricken child be where we
will not be the gazing stock of an idle, curious crowd. I shall meet her
here at my own door."

The train steamed into the depôt, and Mrs. Allison, glancing from a window
of the parlor-car, saw her brother and nephews standing near the track.

They saw her, too, and lifted their hats with a sad sort of smile. All
felt that the invalid must be unable to sit up or her face also would have
been in sight.

In another moment the train had come to a stand-still, and the next the
three gentlemen were beside the couch on which Mrs. Conly lay.

She looked up at her sons with eyes full of intelligence, made an effort
to speak, but in vain; and the big tears rolled down her cheeks.

They bent over her with hearts and eyes full to overflowing.

"Mother, dear mother, we are glad you have come to us alive," Calhoun said
in low, tremulous tones.

"And we hope we shall soon have you much better," added Arthur.

"Yes," said Adelaide, "she is already better than when we first saw her in
New York, but has not yet recovered her speech and can not help herself