"I know it," she whispered in reply. "I will be quiet."

As they spoke, a faint smile seemed to light up his face, which,
however, was soon changed to an expression of terror.

"Don't scourge me," said he, "don't and I will tell you. It was my
mother. I thought she kissed me, as she used to do long ago, when I was
a boy, and never thought I'd be here." He then uttered a few faint sobs,
but relapsed into a calm expression almost immediately.

The violent beatings of Lady Gourlay's heart were distinctly felt by the
stranger, as he supported her; and in order to prevent the sobs which
he knew, by the heavings of her breast, were about to burst forth, from
awakening the sleeper, he felt it best to lead her out of the room;
which he had no sooner done, than she gave way to a long fit of
uncontrollable weeping.

"Oh, my child!--my child!" she exclaimed, "I fear they have murdered him!
Alas! is he only to be restored to me for a moment, and am I then to be
childless indeed? But I will strive to become calm. Why should I
not? For even this is a blessing--to have seen him, and to have the
melancholy consolation of knowing that if he is to die, he will die in
my own arms."

"Well, but I trust, madam, he won't die. The workings of Providence are
never ineffectual, or without a purpose. Have courage, have patience,
and all will, I trust, end happily."

"Well, but I have a request to make. Allow me to kiss him; I shall not
disturb him; and if he should recover, as I trust in the Almighty's
mercy he will--oh, how I should like to tell him that the dream about
his mother was not altogether a dream--that I did kiss him. Trust me,
I will not awaken him--the fall of the thistledown will will not be
lighter than the kiss I shall give my child."

"Well, be it so, my lady; and get yourself calm, for you know not his
danger, if he should awaken and become agitated."

They then reentered the apartment, and Lady Gourlay, after contemplating
him for a moment or two, stooped down and gently kissed his
lips--once--twice--and a third time--and a single tear fell upon his
cheek. At this moment, and the coincidence was beautiful and affecting,
his face became once more irradiated by a smile that was singularly
serene and sweet, as if his very spirit within him had recognized and
felt the affection and tenderness of this timid but loving embrace.

The stranger then led her out again, and a burden seemed to have been
taken off her heart. S