He says your mother will never recognise him,
with all that hair on his face. I am going to see if something cannot
be done to take the stain off his face, and shall then set half a
dozen tailors to work on some dark blue cloth, to turn him out a suit
before tomorrow morning, in what he calls sailor fashion, so that he
may appear before your mother in something like the style in which she
remembers him."
A few minutes later Gholla came in, and said that Mrs. Holland was
ready for Dick to go in to her. Dick found his mother looking pale and
weak; but the joy of his coming had already brightened her eyes, and
given a faint flush to her cheeks.
"I have been so dreadfully anxious, Dick," she said, after the first
embrace. "I was certain you had been in some terrible danger."
"I have been, but thank God I escaped; owing, I think, to the warning
Annie says you tried to give me. But we must not talk about that now.
I will tell you all the story tomorrow. You are not fit to talk. You
must take some broth, and some wine, and a sleeping draught; and I
hope you will go off, and not wake up till tomorrow morning.
"Now, you do as I tell you. While you are drinking your broth, I will
go in and take something to eat, for I have had nothing today, and am
as hungry as a hunter.
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