"
"He will be perfectly willing to see _me_," I said, confidently. "I
have news of importance for him"--and as she continued to look at me
in that troubled way: "I know of his present disfigurement," I
explained. "You need not be afraid of any unpleasant scenes."
"If I were sure of that," she said hesitatingly, and looked me over
with a critical eye. "Does he know you, sir?"
"Oh, yes," I answered; "we have met before. I assure you it will be
quite all right if you will just let me walk up and announce myself to
him, Mrs. Hines."
If I had had any doubt upon the point I was soon to learn that she was
indeed the mother of the notorious Mr. Edwards; for, ere she had time
to reply, a high-pitched, querulous voice which I had heard before
cried out from somewhere above:
"If that's any one for me, mother, tell him to go away! You know
perfectly well I won't see any one."
"There you are, sir," said Mrs. Hines, unable to hide her
embarrassment; "I told you he wouldn't see you."
"Please give me permission to go up," I said; "he will change his mind
when he hears what I have to say."
"You hear, mother!" came the irritable voice; "I'll break his neck if
he comes up here!"
Judging from the sound of the voice, I concluded that the excited
young man was located in a room immediately above that at the door of
which I stood.
"Don't be alarmed, madam," I said, and, stepping into the room, I
placed my hand reassuringly upon the old lady's shoulder.
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