Later on Mrs. Tracy came forward, leaning on the arm of her son.
"Greta, my dear, I am going home. Will you bid adieu to Lady Chatterton for me? I am a little upset, as you can imagine, but Rufus is going with me."
Mrs. Tracy's eyes were tearful, and Greta watched mother and son depart with wistful eyes.
She did not see Rufus for several days, and then he called, finding her alone in the drawing-room.
"I can never thank you enough," he said, with feeling, "for what you have done. I look back now and see that it was my headstrong will, my obstinate pride and bitter words, that were the cause of our estrangement, and that led to my leaving home. I have harbored wrong thoughts, and suppressed all right feeling for years, and I do not deserve to have all this put straight now."
"And is your mother going to Derbyshire with you?"
"Very shortly."
"How happy you will be together."
The words escaped her involuntarily.
Rufus drew a step nearer her.