He called her mother, as another man might have called her madam, as a simple title of courtesy; and sometimes it made her angry, and sometimes touched her heart. “But I have something to say that maybe I have said before, and something else that is new that you must both hear. This is not a safe place for you, Mr Lew--it is not safe for you both. For Robbie, I am told nobody would meddle with him--alone; but his home here gives a clue, and is a danger to you--and to have you here is a danger for him, who would not be meddled with by himself, but who would be taken (alack, that I should have to say it!) with you.” “I think, Bob,” said Lew, “that we have heard something like this, though perhaps not so clearly stated, before.” He had seated himself quite comfortably in the great chair which had been brought to the parlour for Robbie on his first arrival,--and was, as he always was, perfectly calm, unruffled, and smiling. Robbie stood opposite in no such amiable mood. His shaggy eyebrows were drawn down over his eyes: his whole attitude, down-looking, shifting from one foot to the other, with his shoulders up to his ears, betrayed his perturbation and disquiet. Robbie had been brought to a sudden stop in the fascination of careless and reckless life which swept his slower nature along in its strong current. Such a thing had happened to him before in his intercourse with Lew, and always came uppermost the moment they were parted. It was the sudden shock of Mrs Ainslie’s announcement, and his friend’s apparently careless reception of it, which had jarred him first: and then there was something in the name of mother, addressed to his own mother by a stranger--which he had heard often with quite different feelings, sometimes half flattered by it--which added to his troubled sense of awakening resistance and disgust. Was he to endure this man for ever, to give up everything for him, even his closest relationship? All rebellious, all unquiet and miserable in the sudden strain against his bonds, he stood listening sullenly, shuffling now and then as he changed from one foot to another, otherwise quite silent, meeting no one’s eye. “Well,” said Mrs Ogilvy, her voice trembling a little, “I am perhaps not so very clear; but this other thing I have to say is something that is clear enough and new too, and you will know the meaning of it better than me. I have been to-day to the gentleman who was the first to tell me about all this--and who was to have sent out--to defend my son, and clear him, if it was possible he should be cleared. Listen to me, Robbie! That gentleman has told me to-day--that there is an American officer come over express to inquire---- It will not be about Robbie--they will leave him quiet--think, Mr Lew!--it will be for----”