Just A Girl by Charles Garvice

Norman found his mother very ill. The doctor did not forbid all hope; but a crisis was approaching. They could only wait. Norman was very fond of his mother, and greatly upset, and he put off writing his letter to Trafford until the morrow; and in the morning he, of course, read the news of the duke's sudden death.

He would have dashed off to Belfayre then and there, but he could not leave his mother; and he did the next best thing to going--sat down and wrote a letter to Trafford--the letter of a close and dear friend--and adding that the moment he could leave his mother he would hasten to Belfayre on the chance of being some use. He sent his love to Esmeralda, and his "kind regards" to Lilias. Then he posted his letter with his own hands, and returned to his mother's bedside to mourn; for the duke had always been very good to him, and he loved the old man.