"
Jock fulfilled his mission according to his own judgment, and as he
returned his mother started up.
"You have not brought him back!"
"I should rather think not!"
"Janet's husband! Oh, Jock, it is very dreadful! My poor child!"
She had been a little lioness in face of the enemy, but she was
trembling so hopelessly that Jock put her on a couch and knelt with
his arm round her while she laid her head on his strong young
shoulder.
"Let me fetch you some wine, mother darling," he said.
"No, no-—to feel you is better than anything," putting his arm
closer—-
"What was it all about, mother?"
"Ah! you don't know, yet you went straight to the point, my dear
champion."
"He was bullying you, that was enough. I thought for a moment the
brute was going to strike you."
"That was only gesticulation. I'm glad you didn't knock him down
when you made in to the rescue."
She could laugh a little now.
"I should like to have done it. What did he want? Money, of
course?"
"Not solely. I can't tell you all about it; but Janet saw some
memoranda of your father's, and he wants to get hold of them."
"To pervert them to some quackery?"
"If not, I do him great injustice."
"Give them up to a rogue like that! I should guess not! It will be
some little time before he tries again.
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