CHAPTER II.
A NEW HOME "Life hath its May, and all is joyous then; The woods are vocal and the flowers breathe odour, The very breeze hath, mirth in't."-- OLD PLAY.
At last the longed-for yet dreaded day approached, and a letter informed the Trevors that Mr.and Mrs.Williams would arrive at Southampton on July 5th, and would probably reach Ayrton the evening after.

They particularly requested that no one should come to meet them on their landing.

"We shall reach Southampton," wrote Mrs.Trevor, "tired, pale, and travel-stained, and had much rather see you first at dear Fairholm, where we shall be spared the painful constraint of a meeting in public.
So please expect our arrival at about seven in the evening." Poor Eric! although he had been longing for the time ever since the news came, yet now he was too agitated to enjoy.

Exertion and expectation made him restless, and he could settle down to nothing all day, every hour of which hung most heavily on his hands.
At last the afternoon wore away, and a soft summer evening filled the sky with its gorgeous calm.

Far off they caught the sound of wheels; a carriage dashed up to the door, and the next moment Eric sprang into his mother's arms.
"O mother, mother!" "My own darling, darling boy!" And as the pale sweet face of the mother met the bright and rosy child-face, each of them was wet with a rush of ineffable tears.