Later still he had her removed to the sick-ward and placed under the care of a nurse. It was there Ralph and Ruth found her on the afternoon in question. She looked up with a start when Ralph stopped at the foot of her bed, then, with a glad cry, she reached out her wasted arms to him. He was by her side in a moment, with his arms about her neck, and for several minutes they rocked themselves to and fro in silence. Ruth came up on the other side and sat down on a wooden chair, and for awhile her presence was forgotten. "My dear, darling old mother!" Ralph said, as soon as he had recovered himself sufficiently to speak. "I did not think it would have come to this." She made no reply, but continued to rock herself to and fro. He drew himself away after a while and took her thin, wrinkled hands in his. "You must get better now as soon as ever you can," he said, trying to speak cheerfully, though every word threatened to choke him. She shook her head slowly and smiled. "When we get you back to St. Goram," he went on, "you'll soon pick up your strength again, for it is only strength you need." She turned her head and looked up into his face and smiled pathetically. "If it is God's will that I should get strong again I shall not complain," she answered, "but I would rather go Home now I am so near." "Oh no, we cannot spare you yet," he replied quickly; and he gulped down a big lump that had risen in his throat. "I'm going to work in real earnest and build a new home. I've lots of plans for the future." "My poor boy," she said gently, and she tapped the back of his hand with the tips of her wasted fingers, "even if your plans succeed, life will be a hard road still." "Yes, yes, I know that, mother. But to have someone to live for and care for will make it easier." And he bent his head and kissed her. "God alone can tell that, my boy," she said wistfully. "But oh, you've been a long time coming to me." "I wonder if it has seemed so long to you as to me?" he questioned. "But why did they not release you sooner?" she asked. "Oh, it seems months ago since they told me that Jim Brewer had confessed." "Can anybody tell why stupid officialism ever does anything at all?" he questioned. "Liberty is a goddess bound, and justice is fettered and cannot run." "I know nothing about that," she answered slowly, "but it seemed an easy thing to set you free when your innocence had been proved." "No, mother; nothing is easy when you are caught in the blind and blundering toils of the law." "But what is the law for, my boy?" He laughed softly and yet bitterly. "Chiefly, it seems," he said, "to find work for lawyers; and, secondly, to protect the interests of those who are rich enough to pay for it." "Oh, my boy, the bitterness of the wrong abides with you still, but God will make all things right by and by."