There was a sweet, matronly repose about her, and the brightness of her red-gold hair was dashed with streaks of soft grey beneath the laces with which it was crowned.
But her complexion was clear and fair, and there was a look of soft fragility about her which made the son's protecting air of solicitude a natural and appropriate one.

She folded him in her arms in a long, rapturous embrace; and Julian stood silently by the while, reverent of that deep love which for the moment could find no expression save in the whispered words: "Mother! mother! mother!" "My son--my dear boy! my son come back to me!" When the lady turned at length to greet the silent figure who stood silently watching this meeting, Julian could see that the tears were standing upon her cheeks and sparkling in her eyes.
"You will pardon me, sir, for this apparent neglect," she said sweetly, putting her thin jewelled fingers into Julian's hand; "but when my boy goes forth to the fight, I never know whether it will be God's will to send him back to me safe and sound.

A mother's heart cannot but be full upon a day like this.

But second only to my joy in welcoming him back is this of making acquaintance with the trusty friend who has been so much to him during his perils and labours." "Madam, it has been the joy and honour of my life to be able to serve so great a soldier and so noble a man!" The warm clasp upon his fingers gave the mother's answer to this; and then they all moved within the lighted hall, where a glowing fire and a number of candles gave bright illumination, and where quite a hubbub of welcome was going on.

The servants were pressing forward to see and greet their young master, who had come home crowned with laurels.