There was a noticeable quickening of step on the part of the attendant as he moved toward the elevator.
“I guess I’ll stay down here till you send for me,” said Teddy hesitatingly.
“No, you won’t!” exclaimed Don, reaching out and pulling him in with him.
They ascended to the second floor, and hurried down the hall to a door at which their guide pointed.
Don was in the van, and with a trembling hand knocked on the door. It opened almost instantly, and a sweet-faced, slender woman, still young, though there were lines of care on her forehead, stood before them.
“Mother! Mother!” cried Don, and threw himself in her arms.
“Don! My precious boy! Oh, my dear boy!” cried Mrs. Sturdy, sobbing with happiness as she folded Don close to her heart.
She hugged and kissed him and patted his hair, standing him off at times to look into his face and then drawing him again to her as though she would never let him go.
Don’s arms were about her. Tears of joy ran down his cheeks as he tried incoherently to tell how much he loved her and had missed her and how delighted he was that at last he had found her.
Now it was the turn of the captain and the professor, who had stood aside for a moment while mother and son were tasting the first bliss of reunion. Their eyes too were moist, as they embraced the sister and sister-in-law who was unspeakably dear to them and for whom they had searched over so large a part of the world.