[CHAPTER XXX.]
A MOTHER'S AFFECTION.
Niobe. From cruel Ph[oe]bus all my children fly.
Chorus. Fly then, oh Queen, else will they bring thee harm.
Niobe. What evil counsel is upon thy tongue?
Chorus. The counsel that would save thee from thyself.
Niobe. A mother's love should thus protect her child.
Chorus. From such protection cometh death to thee.
Niobe. Death will be welcome if it cometh thus
For naught thou knowest of true motherhood
Thinking that fear of death will drive me hence
To leave mine offspring to Ph[oe]bean darts.
The next day was Sunday, and during the night there was a heavy fall of snow, so the Garsworth folk were not a little astonished, upon rising in the morning, to find the ground white, and the sky of a dull, leaden colour. Una had seen the vicar, and, in consequence of the interview she had with him, had written a letter to Reginald, which she was enclosing in an envelope when Patience Allerby entered in order to clear away the breakfast-things. She saw that Una had been writing to Reginald, and a gleam of interest crossed her stolid face as she looked eagerly at her mistress. Una guessed her thoughts, and, knowing the woman's deep interest in Reginald, arising, as she thought, from the fact of Patience being his nurse, spoke to her on the subject.
"I am writing to Mr. Blake," she said, closing the envelope, "as I am anxious for him to return to Garsworth."
"He is all right, is he not, Miss Una?" asked Patience, anxiously.
"Oh, yes, I think so," replied Una, doubtfully, "but I have been talking with the vicar, and he agrees with me that it is dangerous for Reginald to be in London."
"Danger--from whom?"
"Mr. Beaumont."