“ I never read the papers. But you must have heard of my return to England. Why did you not come to see me? ”
“ I wasn ’ t quite certain that you would like it, ” said Cashel, uneasily, avoiding her eye. “ Hullo! ” he exclaimed, as he attempted to refresh himself by another look at Lydia, “ she ’ s given us the slip. ”
“ She is quite right to leave us alone together under the circumstances. And now tell me why my precious boy should doubt that his own mother wished to see him. ”
“ I don ’ t know why he should, ” said Cashel, with melancholy submission to her affection. “ But he did. ”
“ How insensible you are! Did you not know that you were always my cherished darling — my only son? ”
Cashel, who was now sitting beside her on an ottoman, groaned and moved restlessly, but said nothing.
