Only once had she been the central figure in any public ceremony--on her wedding day, in the years long ago.

Here was a new kind of wedding day in her old age.

The prospect filled her with a tremulous joy which was to both of them a compensation.

She bubbled over with pride and excitement at her inclusion in the homage that was to be paid to the valour of her only son.
"After all," she said, "I did bring him into the world.

So I can claim some credit.