"Mother. He is her lover, whoever he is; but she may need help and womanly counsel;--there may be difficulties or temptations which I don't know. I fear there are. I don't want to know what they are; but as you have ever been a good--ay! and a tender mother to me, go to her, and gain her confidence, and tell her what is best to be done. I know that something is wrong; some dread, which must be a terrible torture to her."
"For God's sake, John!" said his mother, now really shocked, "what do you mean? What do you mean? What do you know?"

'Mother. He is her lover; but she may need help and womanly counsel; there may be difficulties or temptations which I don't know. I fear there are. I don't want to know what they are; but as you have always been a good and tender mother to me, go to her, and gain her confidence, and tell her what is best to be done. I know that something is wrong; and it must be a terrible torture to her.'
'For God's sake, John!' said his mother, now really shocked, 'what do you mean? What do you know?'
