He had seen his mother faint before.

In fact, he had been all prepared for it now.
Presently she began to gasp and struggle feebly, and he knew she was coming to.

"Feel better ?" he asked, in a loud voice, as if she were miles away; indeed, he had a feeling that she was.

"Feel better, mother ?" Mrs.Edwards raised herself.

"Your--father has fell down and died," she said.