"Poor mother! You must have been terribly lonely all this time I've been away."
"I've longed for your return, my darling," said Lady Mary.
Her tone was embarrassed, but Peter did not notice that.
"You see—I went away a boy, but I've come back a man, as you said just now," said Peter.
"You're still very young, my darling—not one-and-twenty," she said fondly.
"I'm older than my age; and I've been through a lot; more than you'd think, all this time I've been away. I dare say it hasn't seemed so long to you, who've had no experiences to go through," he said simply.
She kissed him silently.
"Now just listen, mother dear," said Peter, firmly. "I made up my mind to say something to you the very first minute I saw you, and it's got to be said. I'm sorry I used to be such a beast to you—there."
"Oh, Peter!"
"I dare say," said Peter, "that it's all this rough time in South Africa that's made me feel what a fool I used to make of myself, when I was a discontented ass of a boy; that, or being ill, or something, used to—make one think a bit. And that's why I made up my mind to tell you. I know I used to disappoint you horribly, and be bored by your devotion, and all that. But you'll see," said Peter, decidedly, "that I mean to be different now; and you'll forgive me, won't you?"