So, accordingly, she made him give her all his attention while she told him the story and the terms of Sir Mowbray's letter, forcing herself the while to keep her own opinions and predilections as much as possible out of sight.
Robert listened with interest and astonishment, the sense of a new-found manhood waxing once more strong within him, as his mind admitted the strange picture of himself occupying the place which had been his fathers; master of the house and the parish he had wandered over with childish steps, clinging to the finger or the coat of the tall, stooping figure which occupied the dim background of his recollections.

'Poor mother,' he said, thoughtfully, when she paused, 'it would be hard upon _you_ to go back to Murewell!' 'Oh, you mustn't think of me when the time comes,' said Mrs.Elsmere, sighing.

'I shall be a tiresome old woman, and you will be a young man a wife.

There, put it out of your head, Robert.

I thought I had better tell you, for, after all, the fact may concern your Oxford life.