Chapter 74

Robert, in his exhausted slumber, became vaguely conscious of unrest. He had fallen asleep with his purpose so keenly in his mind that the first thing he thought was that some one was awakening him because the moment had come. He thought of his mother, and how she used to awaken him on days of childish sorrow—when he was to go to the doctor to have a burn dressed, or to have a tooth out. He had the same sinking of the heart now. But his mother would not fumble about his feet like a small lost creature. Something da…