Oh, let nothing that happens unmother me!" In this way she sat in the dark and silence and asked and waited for the answer.

And no doubt it came, for about two o'clock she rose up like one that had been strengthened and went calmly to her rest.
In the morning the first shock of the coming change was over, the everyday use and wont of an orderly house restored the feeling of stability, and Martha told herself things might turn out better than looked likely.

John was just as loving and attentive as he had always been, and when he asked her to call on Jane Harlow as soon as she could and give her welcome into the Hatton family, she did not impute his attentions to any selfish motive.
Nevertheless, it was as the Lady of Hatton Manor, rather than as John's mother, she went to make this necessary call.

She dressed with the greatest care, and though she was a good walker, chose to have her victoria with its pair of white ponies carry her to the village.

Jane met her at the gate of their villa and the few words of necessary welcome were spoken with a kindness which there was no reason to doubt.
With Mrs.Harlow Martha had a queer motherly kind of friendship, and it was really by her advice the ladies had been led to think of a return to Harlow House.