"It has given your aunt Georgina and me a terrible shock," said Lady
Belstone, faintly.
"You can't expect a fellow who has been invalided home to turn up without a single scratch," said Peter, in rather surly tones.
"How like his father!" said Miss Crewys.
"Besides, you know very well my mother would have tormented herself to death if I had told her," said Peter. "I want her to see with her own eyes how perfectly all right I am before she knows anything about it."
"It was a noble thought," said the canon.
"Where is she?" demanded Peter.
He seemed about to cross the hall to the staircase but the canon detained him.
"Oughtn't some one to prepare her?"
"Oh, joy never kills," said Peter. "She's quite well, isn't she?"
"Quite well."