She had studied her part for the occasion. She would not say a harsh word, and now she endeavoured to meet him with a smile. "Mother," he said, "you up at this hour!" His face was flushed, and she thought that there was some unsteadiness in his gait. She had never seen him tipsy, and it would be doubly terrible to her if such should be his condition.
"I could not go to bed till I had seen you."
"Why not? why should you want to see me? I'll go to bed now. There'll be plenty of time by-and-bye."

She had rehearsed her part. She would not say a harsh word, and now she endeavoured to meet him with a smile.
"Mother," he said, "you up at this hour!" His face was flushed, and she thought that he was unsteady. She had never seen him tipsy; it would be doubly terrible to her if that were so.
"I could not go to bed till I had seen you," she said.
"Why not? I'll go to bed now. There'll be plenty of time by-and-by."
