When Rob opened the front door he came face to face with Nell, who gave an exclamation of joy and threw herself into his arms.  
"Oh, Rob!" she cried, "I'm so glad you've come. We have all been dreadfully worried about you, and mother—"
 
"Well, what about mother?" inquired the boy, anxiously, as she paused.
 
"She's been very ill, Rob; and the doctor said to-day that unless we heard from you soon he would not be able to save her life. The uncertainty about you is killing her."
 
Rob stood stock still, all the eager joy of his return frozen into horror at the thought that he had caused his dear mother so much suffering.
 
"Where is she, Nell?" he asked, brokenly.
 
"In her room. Come; I'll take you to her."
 
Rob followed with beating heart, and soon was clasped close to his mother's breast.
 
"Oh, my boy—my dear boy!" she murmured, and then for very joy and love she was unable to say more, but held him tight and stroked his hair gently and kissed him again and again.
 
Rob said little, except to promise that he would never again leave home without her full consent and knowledge. But in his mind he contrasted the love and comfort that now surrounded him with the lonely and unnatural life he had been leading and, boy though he was in years, a mighty resolution that would have been creditable to an experienced man took firm root in his heart.
 
He was obliged to recount all his adventures to his mother and, although he made light of the dangers he h............