"Mother," he remarked, "Loyd is correct."
"Loyd is always correct," replied the lady in a startled way, that belied the confidence that her words implied.
"Yes, but he is correct upon one point which you and I, in our great love for Romaine, have been trying to evade during the whole of this endless day."
"What do you mean, Hubert?"
"I mean that Romaine's mind is affected."
"Merciful heaven!" cried the mother, the ready tears glittering in her anxious eyes, "how you utter my thoughts! My dear boy, what shall we do if such be the case?"
"I believe it to be but a temporary aberration, and Loyd thinks so, too," replied the young man, soothingly.
"But how can we tell? O Hubert, what suspense for us!"
"Yes; but we must bear it bravely, mother, hoping and praying for the best. All that we can do is to mind Loyd's commands, in regard to Romaine, to the letter. It must be our duty to see that nothing troubles or thwarts her."
"Of course!"