“No, no, mother; he did not know I was there till it was just over, and he told me how it was.”
“Yes, I see.”
“I was horrified and frightened when Drew came and told me. I could not keep away.”
“No,” she said softly, “of course not. I should have gone myself had I known. But your good, brave father wounded, and the man who insulted him escaped unhurt!”
“No, no, mother; he is—”
“Frank! Not dead?” she cried in horror, for the boy stopped.
“No, no; but very dangerously wounded. The soldiers carried him back on a litter, but the doctor says that he will live.”
Once more, while she knelt there, Lady Gowan’s lips moved as her eyes closed, and she bent down her head above her son’s shoulder.
At last she raised it, and said, firmly:
“We must be brave over this terrible misfortune, Frank dear. But tell me; do I know the worst?”