"O mother! Mother!" he cried.
"How glad I am to see you!" "To be sure, my dear lad.

But if I had not got your note this morning, I would have known by the sound of your horse's feet he was bringing John home, for your riding was like that of Jehu, the son of Nimshi.

But there! Come thy ways in, and tell me what has happened thee, here and there." They talked first of the coming war, and John advised his mother to prepare for it.

"It will be a war between two rich and stubborn factions," he said.

"It is likely enough to last for years.