She said to herself that if he followed that condition he would never wed Jessie Bain.
Hubert rose quickly to his feet.
"I will take you at your word, mother," he declared promptly, rising suddenly to his feet. "You shall hear from me in regard to this within three days' time. I am going direct to Jessie. If your symptoms should change for the worse, telegraph me."
Kissing his mother hurriedly, and before she could make any protest to this arrangement, Hubert hurried out of the room and out of the house.
He was barely in time to catch the train for Albany, and arrived there just as the dusk was creeping up and the golden-hearted stars were coming out.
He made his way with all haste to the place where he had left Jessie. He must see her, and have a talk with her. He would not take "no" for an answer.
The neat little maid who opened the door for him recognized the gentleman at once.
He had placed a bill in her hand at parting, and she was not likely to forget the handsome young man.
He was shown into the visitors' sitting-room.
"I should like to be permitted to see Miss Bain," he said. "Will you kindly take that message for me to the matron in charge?"