Ralph could hardly
believe his eyes as his mother ran forward to the bed. But the
pressure of her arms and her kisses soon showed him that it was a
reality.
"Why, mother darling!" he exclaimed, "how on earth did you get here?"
"I came across in a smack to Ostend, Ralph, and then came on by carriage.
I got here last night, and learned at the quartermaster-general's
office that you were wounded and were somewhere in Brussels, at least
they believed you were here somewhere, but they could not say where.
They let me have a copy of the list of the houses that had been
allotted for the use of wounded officers. It was too late to begin the
search last night, but I have been three hours going round this
morning. I saw the surgeon downstairs and he told me--" and her lips
quivered and her eyes filled with tears.
"That I had lost my left arm, mother. Well, that is nothing to fret
about when thousands have been killed. One can do very well without a
left arm; and I think, on the whole, that I have been wonderfully
lucky. Denis!" But Denis was not in the room, having, as soon as he
had discovered who Ralph's visitor was, gone out to leave them alone.
"And have you made this journey all by yourself, mother?"
"No, my dear. Mr. Tallboys was good enough to come over to take care
of me by the way."
"Mr. Tallboys, mother! How did he know that you were coming?"
"Well, I told him, Ralph.
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