"My dearest boy, how glad I am to see you!" she exclaimed with a warm, motherly kiss.

Then she put her hands on his shoulders and regarded him with an affectionate smile that quite lighted up her homely face.

Even in her youth Mrs.Herrick had never been handsome.

Indeed, her old friends maintained that she was far better-looking in her middle age, in spite of all her hard work and that burning of the candle at both ends which is so abhorrent to the well-regulated mind.

Her features were strongly marked, and somewhat weather-beaten, and the lower part of the face was too heavily moulded, but the clear, thoughtful gray eyes had a pleasant light in them.
Malcolm was secretly very proud of his mother.