mother," she said. "That's why you were brought here—to see her. You must be very careful. You must answer if she speaks to you, but you mustn't talk much. Do you understand?"
"Yes'm."
"Then wait here a minute."
She left him, and he looked after her with increasing interest. Was his mother here? What the nurse had said seemed to make that certain. The nurse could not be his mother; she had spoken of taking him to her. His mother could not be the old woman who had opened the street door. The operative had spoken of a lady. He hoped, if the lady was his mother, she would prove to be pretty. He recalled some of the women who had given him money, and hoped she might be one of those.
The nurse returned and led him to the closed door of the furthest room and opened it and pushed him in ahead of her. He blinked as he peered about with interest, for the room was partly darkened.
It was a large bedroom, with furniture which,
