"It may be only months, dear, and yet it may be years. It takes time
to break a haughty will, to humble a proud heart; but you shall yet
see the day when my mother will love you for yourself alone."

"Heaven grant that it may come soon!" was the fervent response.

Many months passed away, and yet the mother and son remained as
before--unreconciled. He had kept himself accurately informed in
regard to her--that is, accurately informed as it was possible for
him to be. During that time, she had never been seen abroad. Those
who had met her, represented her as being greatly changed; all the
softness of character that had been assumed in her intercourse with
the world had been laid aside; she was silent, cold, and stern to
all who met her.

Deeply did this intelligence afflict Charles, and he yearned to draw
near to his mother; but he feared to do so, lest, in her haughty
pride, she should throw him off again, and thus render a
reconciliation still more difficult, if not impossible.

While in this state of doubt, affairs assumed a new feature. Charles
received a letter from a friend, stating that the banking
institution, in the stocks of which his mother's entire property was
invested, had failed, and that she was penniless.

"O Charles, go to her at once!" was the exclamation of Ellen, the
moment her husband read to her the intelligence. "It is time now;
all else has failed her."