E CHAPTER IX. And loved her Like a star in heaven, as one who knows "For oh! what bitter words we speak Tannhauser. E. B. BROWNING. ARLY the next morning, Justin Gresham was standing before his looking-glass, brushing out his thick curly black hair in a very vigorous fashion, when there came a tap at his door. "Who is it?" he inquired, laying down his brush, and hastening to unlock the door. Ah, mother! it is you. Come in." So Mrs. Gresham came in. 'Why, my boy, I hardly saw you last night; you ran away from us so soon. How are you ?" She laid a hand on each of his shoulders, and gazed proudly, lovingly, anxiously, into his face. How many expressions cross a mother's countenance as she looks into her child's face, when that child is a first-born and only son; when that son, though dutiful, and all that a mother's heart can desire, is seldom at home, and has in a measure severed himself from home restraints and influences; has become a man, and gone forth into the world, occupied with duties, joys, and sorrows, of which she knows nothing! The look of yearning tenderness in Mrs. Gresham's eyes, and the simple words, "How are you?" indicated much; they said, "How are you in health and mind? are you peaceful in heart and prosperous in the world? are you still my own boy, or has another woman stolen away your affections? Would that I knew all your heart, my son!" But Mrs. Gresham could not say these words, however much she may have felt them; for does there not grow up a reserve between parent and child after a long absence —a reserve not lessening affection, but lessening the freedom of confidence? The boy becomes a man, and he leans no longer on his parents; he looks not to them for guidance and counsel; he looks to himself, he stands alone, keeps his own counsel, and suffers and rejoices in silence. So when Mrs. Gresham asked "How are you?" and received the answer, "Well, mother," she knew it was not quite true. All was not well with her son. There was a great change in him since she had seen him last; he was thinner and older, with unwonted lines of care in his young face, and a sharp, anxious look in his eyes. She saw all this in her own son, her darling, the being she had nurtured and cherished from his birth; who had been a daily, hourly care and joy; whose every little want and pleasure were once known to her. She saw it, but forbore to ask why it was, because there had grown a little strangeness between them, and he was now independent of home. She stroked his cheek and kissed him, thought he was handsomer than ever, and then sat down, quietly, on the edge of his bed, while he finished dressing. "I am glad to come home, mother," Justin said, as he turned to the glass and made a parting down the back of his hair; "but I am afraid I must return soon-perhaps to-morrow." "To-morrow!" repeated his mother, astonished and pained; "you cannot be so glad to come, if you are eager to leave us again so soon." "I cannot help it; we are busy now. Do you see that little curl, mother; is it not round? Do you not remember how proud you used to be of my hair? Shall I cut it off and give it to you to put in a locket?" "Oh, no! it is useless to waste your curls on your poor old mother; keep them until you find some one who wants them, some one more worthy;" and she sighed. "No one could be more worthy than my own mother-I never hope to be so loved by any other woman." 66 'Silly boy!" she said; but she smiled and was well pleased at his words. "A year or two, and you will tell another tale. You are looking ill have you been over-working yourself? I wish you could have been content to settle down here with your father." "I settle down here! The dulness of the life would fret me to death. I was ever restless and wilful; I am more so nowEngland even cannot hold my wandering spirit; I intend to try the Continent, to go to Germany. By the bye, how do you like Langley?" Mrs. Gresham coughed, and was dubious. Justin saw at a glance she did not appreciate his friend, but she was loth to express her sentiments upon the point. "She knew he was a very worthy young man," she said; "but he was not quite what she had anticipated. There was a want of style and polish |