she gave her a fond kiss, saying,
"There, Mary, I thought you would like to be here."

"Thank you, thank you, you are always kind."

"There now, Mary, don't let yourself be overcome. You would not
bring him back again, I know. Come, lie down and rest. There--that is
right--and don't think of coming down stairs. You think your mamma had
better not, don't you?"

"Much better not, thank you, grandmamma," said Henrietta, as she
assisted in settling her mother on the sofa. "She is tired and overcome
now, but she will be herself after a rest."

"And ask for anything you like, my dear. A glass of wine or a cup of
coffee; Judith will get you one in a moment. Won't you have a cup of
coffee, Mary, my dear?"

"Thank you, no thank you," said Mrs. Frederick Langford, raising
herself. "Indeed I am sorry--it is very foolish." Here the choking sob
came again, and she was forced to lie down. Grandmamma stood by, warming
a shawl to throw over her, and pitying her in audible whispers. "Poor
thing, poor thing! it is very sad for her. There! a pillow, my dear?
I'll fetch one out of my room. No? Is her head high enough? Some
sal-volatile? Yes, Mary, would you not like some sal-volatile?"

And away she went in search of it, while Henrietta, excessively
distressed, knelt by her mother, who, throwing her arms round her neck,
wept freely for some moments, then laid her head on the cushions again,
saying, "I did not think I was so weak!"

"Dearest mamma," said Henrietta, kissing her and feeling very guilty.

"If I have not distressed grandmamma!" said her mother anxiously. "No,
never mind me, my dear, it was fatigue and--"

Still she could not finish, so painfully did the familiar voices, the
unchanged furniture, recall both her happy childhood and the bridal days
when she had last entered the house, that it seemed as it were a new
thing, a fresh shock to miss the tone that was never to be heard there
again. Why should all around be the same, when all within was altered?
But it had been only the first few moments that had overwhelmed her, and
the sound of Mrs. Langford's returning footsteps recalled her habit of
self-control; she thanked her, held out her quivering hand, drank the
sal-volatile, pronounced herself much better, and asked pardon for
having given so much trouble.

"Trouble? my dear child, no such thing! I only wish I could see you
better. No doubt it is too much for you, this coming home the first
time; but then you know