She found herself constantly referring to John, even in her plans for Peter's amusement.
Strong, calm, patient John--who was prepared to wait; and who would not, as he said, snatch happiness at the expense of other people's feelings.

How wise he had been to agree that, for the present, she must devote herself only to Peter! She and Peter would be all in all to each other as Peter himself had suggested, and as she had once dreamed her son would be to his mother; though, of course, it was not to be expected that a boy could understand everything, like John.
She must make great allowances; she must be patient of his inherited prejudices; above all, she must make him happy.
Afterwards, perhaps, when Peter had learned to do without her--as he would learn too surely in the course of nature--she would be free to turn to John, and put her hand in his, and let him lead her whithersoever he would.
Peter saw his guardian off at Brawnton, dutifully standing at attention on the platform until the train had departed, instead of starting home as John suggested.
When he came out of the station he stood still for a moment, contemplating the stout, brown cob and the slim groom, who was waiting anxiously to know whether Sir Peter would take the reins, or whether he was to have the honour of driving his master home.
"I think I'll walk back, George," said Peter, with a nonchalant air.
"Take the cob along quietly, and let her ladyship know directly you get in that I'm returning by Hewelscourt woods, and the ferry." "Very good, Sir Peter," said the youth, zealously.
"It would be only civil to look in on the Hewels as Sarah is going back to town so soon," said Peter to himself.

"And it's rot driving all those miles on the sunny side of the river, when it's barely three miles from here to Hewelscourt and the ferry, and in the shade all the way.

I shall be back almost as soon as the cart." A little old lady, dressed in shabby black silk, looked up from the corner of the sofa next the window, when Peter entered the drawing-room at Hewelscourt, after the usual delay, apologies, and barking of dogs which attends the morning caller at the front door of the average country house.
Peter, who had expected to see Mrs.Hewel and Sarah, repented himself for a moment that he had come at all when he beheld this stranger, who regarded him with a pair of dark eyes that seemed several times too large for her small, wrinkled face, and who merely nodded her head in response to his awkward salutation.
"Ah!" said the old lady, rather as though she were talking to herself, "so this is the returned hero, no doubt.

How do you do?
The rejoicing over your home-coming kept me awake half the night." Peter was rather offended at this free-and-easy method of address.