Fiction > Book editions > London, 1889 - Master of Ballantrae

36 TIIE AIASTER OF BALLANTEAE.
o£ — ■'■' he hesitated, and then the words broke from him
with a singular change o£ voice — '^'my son ? "
" My dear lord, I will be round with you like a
soldier/^ said the Colonel. '' I do/^
My lord held out a wavering hand; he seemed to
wave a signal, but whether it was to give him time or
to speak on, was more than we could guess. At leirgth
he got out the one word, " Good ? ''
" Why, the very best in the creation ! " cries the
Colonel. " For my good friend and admired comrade is
at this hour in the fine city of Paris, and as like as not,
if I know anything of his habits, he will be drawing in
his chair to a piece of dinner. — Bedad, I believe the
lady^s fainting,"
Mrs. Henry was indeed the colour of death, and
drooped against the window-frame. But when Mr.
Henry made a movement as if to run to her, she
straightened with a sort of shiver. " I am well,^'' she
said, with her white lips.
Mr, Henry stopped, and his face had a strong twitch
of anger. The next moment he had turned to the
Colonel. " You must not blame yourself,^' says he,
" for this effect on INIrs. Durie. It is only natural ; w^e
were all brought up like brother and sister, -"^
Mrs. Henry looked at her husband with something
like relief or even gratitude. In my way of thinking,
that speech was the first step he made in her good
graces.