Mrs. Shelton was in town; and, though it was the first of June, sat warming her feet before a fire; her face, with its pleasant colour, was crow's-footed like the little barber's, but from optimism, not rebellion. She, smiled when she saw her son; and the wrinkles round her eyes twinkled, with vitality.
“Well, my dear boy,” she said, “it's lovely to see you. And how is that sweet girl?”
“Very well, thank you,” replied Shelton.
“She must be such a dear!”
“Mother,” stammered Shelton, “I must give it up.”
“Give it up? My dear Dick, give what up? You look quite worried. Come and sit down, and have a cosy chat. Cheer up!” And Mrs. Shelton; with her head askew, gazed at her son quite irrepressibly.
“Mother,” said Shelton, who, confronted by her optimism, had never, since his time of trial began, felt so wretchedly dejected, “I can't go on waiting about like this.”
“My dear boy, what is the matter?”;
“Everything is wrong!”
“Wrong?” cried Mrs. Shelton. “Come, tell me all, about it!”