Tears came into her eyes--brimmed--overflowed--in silence.

Her lips smiled.

Rachel Dunstable bent over her in bewilderment.
"To have a son," murmured Doris under her breath, "and then to see him ruined like this! No love for him!--no children--no grandchildren for oneself, when one is old--" Her voice died away.
"'To have a son' ?" repeated Lady Dunstable, wondering--"but you have none!" Doris said nothing.

Only she put up her hand feebly, and wiped away the tears--still smiling.

After which she shut her eyes.
Lady Dunstable gasped.