A few minutes later Gholla came in, and said that Mrs. Holland was ready for Dick to go in to her. Dick found his mother looking pale and weak; but the joy of his coming had already brightened her eyes, and given a faint flush to her cheeks.
"I have been so dreadfully anxious, Dick," she said, after the first embrace. "I was certain you had been in some terrible danger."
"I have been, but thank God I escaped; owing, I think, to the warning Annie says you tried to give me. But we must not talk about that now. I will tell you all the story tomorrow. You are not fit to talk. You must take some broth, and some wine, and a sleeping draught; and I hope you will go off, and not wake up till tomorrow morning.
"Now, you do as I tell you. While you are drinking your broth, I will go in and take something to eat, for I have had nothing today, and am as hungry as a hunter. Then I will come back, and sit by you till you go off to sleep."
He was not long away, but he was met at the door by his aunt, who said:
"She has gone off already, Dick. I have no doubt that she will sleep many hours, but if she wakes, I will let you know at once."
"If that is the case, Gholla," the Rajah, who had come in at the same moment, said, "I can let you into a secret, which no one but myself knows yet, but which, now that Margaret is asleep, can be told."
Gholla was very pleased when she heard the news, and Dick went off at once to his father. It was a great relief, to the latter, to know that his wife had gone off to sleep, and would probably be well enough to have the news broken to her in the morning.
"I hear that you are preparing for the meeting, Father, by getting yourself shaved, and having a blue cloth suit made?"
"Yes, Dick. I should like to be as much like my old self as possible."