Reaching his mother's door, he paused and waited outside while the doctor went quietly in.
His patient seemed to be asleep, but opened her eyes and smiled up into his face as he reached the bedside.
"Dear cousin," he said, low and tenderly, "are you feeling quite easy now?"
"Quite so," she answered in low, sweet tones; "all is going right, I think. Is it not?"
"Yes, so it would seem. You are the best of patients, and with the abundance of good nursing you are sure to have, I think we will soon have you about again. But," glancing around upon her three daughters, "she must be kept very quiet, neither talking nor being talked to much more than is absolutely necessary.
"However, I am going to allow Walter a moment's sight of his mother, and as he is your baby boy, you may, if you choose, speak half a dozen words to him," he added, addressing himself directly to the patient.
Then stepping to the door, he beckoned to Walter, and led him to the side of the bed.
"There, laddie, you may tell her how dearly you love her, but nothing more."
"Mamma, dear, darling mamma! I couldn't begin to tell it!" Walter said, low and tremulously, just touching his lips to her cheek.
"Mother's darling boy!" was all she said in response, but the eyes looking into his spoke volumes of mother-love.