--it startled him so. It was a comfort to him to find that his mother knew all about this. She came and kneeled
beside his sofa, and told him that many persons who had lost a limb considered
this odd feeling the most painful thing they had to bear for some time;

but that, though the feeling would return occasionally through life, it would cease to be painful. When he ha d become so used to do without his foot as to leave off wanting or wishing for it, he would perhaps make a joke of the feeling, instead
of being disappointed. At least she knew that some persons did so who had lost a limb. This
did not comfort Hugh much, for every prospect had suddenly become darkened. He said he did not know how he should bear his misfortune;--he was pretty sure he could not
bear it. It seemed so long already since it had happened! And when he thought of the long long days, and months,
and years, to the
end of his life, and that he should