indeed, his mother, and _in her right mind_, that was gazing at him. He scarcely breathed. At length surprise and apprehension yielded before a gush of tenderness and love. With what an unutterable look was his mother at that moment regarding him! His lip quivered--his eye overflowed--and, as he felt her fingers very gently compressing his own, his tears fell down. Gently leaning forward, he kissed her cheek, and sank on one knee beside the bed. "Is it you, my son?" said she, in a very low tone, but in _her own_ voice, and it stirred up instantly a thousand fond recollections, almost overpowering him. He kissed her hand with fervent energy, but spoke not. She continued gazing at him with mingled solemnity and fondness. Her eye seemed brightening as it remained fixed upon him. Again she spoke, in a very low but clear voice--every thrilling word being heard by all around her: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,--Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." It would be in vain to attempt to describe the manner in which these words were spoken; and which fell upon those who heard them as though they were listening to one from the dead. "My mother!--my mother!" at length faltered Aubrey. "God bless thee, my son!" said she, solemnly. "And Catherine, my daughter--God bless thee"---- she presently added, gently turning round her head towards the quarter whence a stifled sob issued from Miss Aubrey, who rose, trembling, and leaning over, kissed her mother. "Agnes, are you here--and your little ones?--God bless"---- Her voice got fainter, and her eyes closed. Mr. Whately gave her a few drops of ether, and she presently revived. "God hath been very good to you, Madam," said Dr. Tatham, observing her eye fixed upon him, "to restore you thus to your children." "I have been long absent--long!--I wake, my children, but to bid you farewell, forever, upon earth." "Say not so, my mother--my precious mother!" exclaimed her son, in vain endeavoring to suppress his emotions. "I do, my son! Weep not for me; I am old, and am summoned away from among you"--She ceased, as if from exhaustion; and no one spoke for some minutes. "It may be that God hath roused me, as it were, from the dead, to comfort my sorrowful children with words of hope," said Mrs. Aubrey, with much more power and distinctness than before. "Hope ye, then, in God; for ye shall yet praise him who is the health of your countenance, and your God!" "We will remember, my mother, your words!" faltered her son.