The old lady took his hand and fondled it. “Herbert, my son, I’ve wonderful news for you.” “News?” said Herbert. “Did you find it in the evening paper?” “It’s going to make a lot of difference to us all,” said Mrs. Heywood. “No more cribbage, Herbert!” “Thank heaven for that!” said Herbert. “And not so much social work for Clare.” “Well, let’s be thankful for small mercies,” said Herbert. “Bend your head down and let me whisper to you,” said Mrs. Heywood. She put her hands up to his head, and drew it down, and whispered something into his ears. It was something which astounded him. He started back and said “No!” as though he had heard something quite incredible. Then he spoke in a whisper: “By Jove!... Is that a fact?” “It’s the best fact that ever was, Herbert,” said the old lady. “Yes... it will make a bit of a difference,” said Herbert thoughtfully. Mrs. Heywood clasped her son’s arm. There was a tremulous light in her eyes and a great emotion in her voice. “Herbert, I am an old woman and your mother. Sit down and let me talk to you as I did in the old days when you were my small boy before a nursery fire.” Herbert smiled at her; all the gloom had left his face. “All right, mother.... By Jove, and I never guessed. And yet I ought to have guessed. Things have been--different--lately.” He sat down on a hassock near the old lady with his knees tucked up. She sat down, too, and stretched out a trembling hand to touch his hair. “Once upon a time, Herbert, there was a young man and a young woman who loved each other very dearly.” Herbert looked up and smiled at her. “Are you sure, mother?” “Perfectly sure. Then they married.” “And lived happily ever after? I bet they didn’t!” “No, not quite happily, because this is different from the fairy tales. ... After a time the husband began to think too much about his work, while the wife stayed at home and thought too much about herself.” “It’s a stale old yarn,” said Herbert. “What happened then?” “By degrees the wife began to think she hated her husband, because although he gave her little luxuries and pretty clothes, and all the things that pleased _him_, he never gave her the thing _she_ wanted.” “What was that?” asked Herbert. “It was a magic charm to make her forget herself.” “Well, magic charms aren’t easy to find,” said Herbert. “No.... But at last she went out to find it herself. And while she was away the husband came home and missed her.” “Poor devil!” said Herbert. “Of course he did.” “Being a man,” said Mrs. Heywood, giving a queer little laugh, “he stayed at home more than he used to do, and then complained that he was left too much alone. Just like his wife had complained.” “Well, hang it all,” said Herbert, “she ought to have stayed with him.”