"
"I am come now without poor Miles's knowledge or consent," said
Julius, "because it is necessary for him to know what to do."
"He will give up the navy," said his mother. "O, Julius! does he
require to be told that he--?" and she laid her head on her son's
shoulder.
"It is what he cannot bear to be told; but what drives me on is that
Whitlock tells me that the Wil'sbro' people want to bring him in at
once, as the strongest proof of their feeling for Raymond."
"Yes," she raised her head proudly, "of course he must come forward.
He need have no doubt. Send him to me, Julius, I will tell him to
open letters, and put matters in train. Perhaps you will write to
Graves for me, if he does not like it, poor boy."
She had roused herself into the woman of business, and when Miles,
after some indignation at her having been disturbed, obeyed the
summons, she held out her arms, and became the consoler.
"Come, my boy," she said, "we must face it sooner or later. You
must stand foremost and take up his work for him."
"Oh, mother! mother! you know how little I am able," said Miles,
covering his face with his hands.
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