With a shock of disappointment, Piers saw that the old photograph had faded almost to invisibility.

He just discerned the outlines of a pleasant face, the dim suggestion of womanly charm--all he would ever see of the mother who bore him.
"It seems to me," said Daniel, after sympathising with his chagrin, "that there must be a lot of papers, literary work, letters, and that kind of thing, which will have more interest for you than for anyone else.

When we get things looked through, shall I send you whatever I think you would care for ?" With gratitude Piers accepted what he could not have brought himself to ask for.
On the southward journey he kept taking from his pocket two letters which had reached him at Hawes.

One was from John Jacks, full of the kindliest condolence; a manly letter which it did him good to read.

The other came from Mrs.Hannaford, womanly, sincere; it contained a passage to which Piers returned again and again.