It oddly and strongly struck her, as she saw it, the thought of the hands that had lately been so busy there; the work left, the hands gone; and for a few moments she stood absolutely still, feeling and putting away the idea that made her heart ache.

She had a battle to fight before she was mistress of herself and could speak Winthrop's name.

Nobody answered; and scolding herself for the tone of her voice, Mrs.
Landholm spoke again.

A little rustling let her know that she was heard; and presently Winthrop made his appearance from below or from some distant corner behind the hay, and came to meet her.

He could not command his face to his mother's eyes, and sorrow for Will for a moment was half forgotten in sorrow for him.