He had only
gone a few steps when his mother called to him. He stopped. She
joined him excitedly.
"Oh, Alaric! There is a way--one way that would save us." And she
trembled as she paused, as if afraid to tell him what the
alternative was.
"Is there, mater? What is it?"
"It rests with you, dear."
"Does it? Very good. I'll do it."
"Will you? "
"Honour bright, I will."
"Whatever it is?"
"To save you and Ethel and the roof, 'course I will. Now you've got
me all strung up. Let me hear it."
She drew him into a little arbour in the rose-garden out of sight
and hearing of the open windows.
"Alaric?" she asked, in a tone that suggested their fate hung on his
answer: "Alaric! Do you LIKE her?"
"Like whom?"
"Margaret! Do you?"
"Here and there. She amuses me like anything at times. She drew a
map of Europe once that I think was the most fearful and wonderful
thing I have ever seen. She said it was the way her father would
like to see Europe. She had England, Scotland and Wales in GERMANY,
and the rest of the map was IRELAND. Made me laugh like anything."
And he chuckled at the remembrance.
Suddenly Mrs. Chichester placed both of her hands on his shoulders
and with tears in her eyes exclaimed:
"Oh! my boy! Alaric! My son!"
"Hello!" cried the astonished youth.
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