He just discerned the outlines of a pleasant
face, the dim suggestion of womanly charm--all he would ever see
of the mother who bore him.
"It seems to me," said Daniel, after sympathising with his chagrin,
"that there must be a lot of papers, literary work, letters, and
that kind of thing, which will have more interest for you than for
anyone else. When we get things looked through, shall I send you
whatever I think you would care for?"
With gratitude Piers accepted what he could not have brought himself
to ask for.
On the southward journey he kept taking from his pocket two letters
which had reached him at Hawes. One was from John Jacks, full of the
kindliest condolence; a manly letter which it did him good to read.
The other came from Mrs. Hannaford, womanly, sincere; it contained a
passage to which Piers returned again and again. "My niece is really
grieved to hear of your sudden loss; happening at a moment when all
seemed to be going well with you. She begs me to assure you of her
very true sympathy, and sends every good wish." Little enough, this,
but the recipient tried to make much of it. He had faintly hoped
that Irene might send him a line in her own hand. That was denied,
and perhaps he was foolish even to have dreamt of it.
He could not address his verses to her, now. He must hurry away from
England, and try to forget her.
Of course she would bear, one way or another, about the
circumstances of his birth.
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