Dr Brandram is with him.

I thought it better not to wait till the morning before fetching you." "Mother--does she know ?" "By this time." "Why ever did we not go back ?" groaned the boy.

"Is there _any_ hope, Armstrong ?" "Some--yes.

Go to your mother and tell her so.

The carriage will be ready in five minutes." In five minutes the boy and his mother descended to the hall, where already their host and hostess were down to bid them farewell.